120 



V CYPEKUS— continued, „•,. „ 



Section Papyrus. 



papyrus, Linn. ; Nile Papyrus ; her. per.; Egypt. A.B. 



This plant, sometimes called "Papyrus antiquomm," is supposed to be the bulrush of which 



the ark of the child Moses and also the vessels spoken ol by Isaiah were made, and is "the 

 paper-reed of the brooks." The mode adopted by the ancients for making paper from its stems 

 seems to have been to have peeled the stems and then to have cut the pith lengthways into thin 

 slices, which were laid side by side, their edges touching one another. These were then sprinkled 

 with a gummy water and a heavy press was applied: thus the whole became united into one 

 piece. These sheets were then dried and cut up into convenient sizes tor use. 



rotundus, Linn. ; Nut-grass ; her. per. ; East India and Australia. A.B. 



esculentus, Linn. ; her. per. ; Europe. 



In several parts of Europe the tubers of this sedge are eaten after being boiled. 



alternifolius, Linn. ; her. per. ; Madagascar. A.B. 

 var. alba-variegatus. A.B. 



Section Maris cus. 

 umbellatus, JBenth. ; her. per. ; Tropics and Sub-tropics. xL.B. 



HELEpCHAEIS, S. Br. 



cylindrostachys, Bceclcel. ; her. per. ; Australia. A.B. 

 tuberpsa, Seem, et Schult. ; Matai or Petsi ; 'aq. ; China. A. 



This plant is largely cultivated in China, where the rhizomes are boiled for food. It furnishes a 

 kind of arrowroot. Tlie plant also has some reputation as a remedy in mucous and bloody flux, 

 hsematuria, &c. 



FIMBEISTYLTS, Yahl. 



diphylla, Vahl. ; her. per. ; Australia. A.B. 



This sedge is often infested with a fungus (Ustilago axicola, Berk.) 



SCIEPUS, Linn. „ ,. T , . 



Section Isolepis. 



inundatus, Spreng. ; her. per. ; Australia and New Zealand. A.B. 



LIPOCAEPHA, S. Br. 



microcephala, Kunth. ; her. per. ; Australia. A.B. 



FUIEENA, Linn. 



glomerata, Lam. ; an. ; Queensland. A.B. 



Teibe Ehynchosporeje. 



GAHNIA, Forst. c .. T 



Section Lampocarya. 



aspera, Spreng. ; her. per. ; Australia. A.B. 



Tribe Sclerie.ze. 

 SCLEBIA, Berg. 



SERIES LAX.E. 



laxa, S. Br. ; an. ; Queensland. A.B. 



njppT T - Tribe Cabice^. 



(JAEEX, Linn. 



in versa, S. Br. ; her. per. ; Australia. A.B. 



Order Gil AMINES. 



(Grass Family.) 



As a food-producing order this is perhaps the most important in the whole Vegetable Kingdom. 



Series A.— PANIACE^E. 



PASPALUM, Linn. Tribe I--*^Cb*. 



scrobiculatum, Linn. ; her. per. ; Tropics and Sub-tropics. A.B. 

 distichum, Linn. ; her. per. ; Tropics and Sub-tropics. A,B, 



