T. Holm — Studies in the Cyperacece. 19 



which {ax 1 ) attains a peculiar tuberous development of the 

 internode above the leaf (ft). Another shoot pushes out from 

 the axil of the scale-like leaf B, which is, consequently, of 

 second order (ax 2 ), and which develops into a leaf-bearing shoot 

 of normal structure. We find this same manner of develop- 

 ment if we consider figure 5, which represents an enlarged 

 portion of the rhizome (fig. 4). We see, also, here the two 

 systems of axes (ax 1 and ax 2 ) one of which (ax 1 ) shows the 

 same tuberous internode (i 2 ) as described above. The axillary 

 shoot (ax 2 ) bears here two scale-like leaves (ft 1 and ft 2 ), of which 

 the upper one (b 2 ) supports the shoot, ax 2 , well distinguished as 

 axillary by its prophyllon (pr). This figure shows, then, the 

 development of the axis of first order either as a flower-bear- 

 ing stem with stretched internodes, or as a tuberous shoot with 

 the growing-point arrested in its further development; the 

 axis of second order seems, also, in this species to stay under- 

 ground as purely vegetative. In regard to the tuberous devel- 

 opment of one of the internodes of F. squarrosa, we must 

 state, that this seems to be a very rare case in the Cyperacece, 

 while tubers of several internodes are known from a few 

 species of Cyperus, e. g. C. esculentus and C. phymatodes, 

 which have been described in a very clear and comprehensive 

 manner by Seignette (1. c.) In the Graminece, on the con- 

 trary, such single tuberous internodes are not very rare, and 

 Hackel (1. c.) enumerates quite a number of grasses, represent- 

 ing a development like that of Fuirena squarrosa. These 

 grasses are mostly inhabitants of regions of which a periodical 

 drought is characteristic, and Hackel mentions for instance the 

 Pacific species of Melica, some Mexican species of Panic%im, 

 the genus Fhrharta from the Cape Colony, besides several 

 species from the Mediterranean. 



In regard to the stem above-ground, this is in F. scirpoidea 

 built up of a number of rather short internodes, of which all 

 the leaves are merely present as sheaths, the blade being only 

 a rudiment ; the stem of the other species is of usual form, but 

 none of the internodes is, however, long enough to be defined 

 as a scape. The leaves of F. squarrosa have long, linear 

 blades, like the tubular sheath very hairy ; a ligule is, also, 

 developed as usual in the long-leaved Cyperacece, and it is very 

 strange that this organ seems almost constantly to have been 

 overlooked in this family, although it is very distinct, when 

 developed. Baillon (1. c.) and Bentham and Hooker have even 

 considered the ligule as one of the generic characters of 

 Fuirena, viz : " foliorum vagina ligula coronata." It is, on 

 the other hand, just as incorrect when the authors of botanical 

 manuals constantly attribute this same organ, the ligule, to all 

 the Graminece without exception, although it is absent in 



