53ft CATEEACE^. [CypeTus. 



Subclass II. Glum ACE ^. 



" Flowers destitute of true perianth (unless the curious urceo- 

 late or 2 — 3 valved covering to the ovary in some Cyperacese, or 

 the glumellas of the Gramineae, be considered such), but enclosed 

 within imbricated alternate chaffy scales or bracteas." — Br. Fl. 



Order LXXXVI. CYPEEACEiE, Juss. 



" Flowers perfect or imperfect, furnished each with a solitary 

 partial bractea called a glume, imbricated on a common axis or 

 rachis, the whole constituting a spikelet. Perianth ? (here called 

 perigynium) only in the fertile imperfect flowers, rarely membra- 

 naceous, 2 — 3 valved, the valves distinct or usually united (in 

 Carex), generally entirely wanting. Stamens hj'pogynous, definite 

 (1 — 12), usually 3, with sometimes an additional row of abortive 

 filaynents (called setce or hypogy7ious bristles). Anthers erect, 

 2-celled. Ovary superior, 1-celled, with one erect ovule at its 

 base. Style single, 2 — 3 cleft. Stigmas 2 — 3. Fruit an achene, 

 crustaceous, or with a corky or fleshy, sometimes bony, skin. 

 Embryo lenticular, enclosed in the base of a coxdIous albtimen. — 

 Stems often angular, frequently without joints. Leaves tvith entire 

 sheaths. Lower glumes in each spikelet often destitute of stamens 

 or pistil." — Br. Fl. 



Tribe 1. Cypereje. 



Flowers perfect. Glumes of each spikelet imbricated in two oppo- 

 site roivs. Perigynium 0. 



I. Cyperus, Linn. Cyprus-grass. 



" Spikelets many-flowered. Glumes keeled, imbricated in 2 

 opposite rows, mostly fertile, equal. Hypogynous bristles 0. 

 Style not dilated at the base, 2 — 3 cleft, deciduous. Achene often 

 tipped with the small base of the style." — Br. Fl. 



An extensive genus, mostly restricted to low situations in tlie torrid and warmer 

 parts of the temperate zone, having their metropolis in the former as Carex has in 

 the latter. They are in fact the Sedges of the South. The roots of some species 

 are aromatic and esculent, whilst the stems of another yielded to ihe ancients their 

 papyrus : their value is otherwise unimportant. Few are absolutely injurious, but 

 C. Hydra (Nut-grass of the W. Indies and S. Carolina, Coco-grass of Louisiana, 

 &c.) is a grievous and almost unconquerable evil to the sugar-planters of those 

 countries. 



