T. Holm — Studies in the Cyperacece. 451 



segregation of these as a special group. The following points 

 may be taken into consideration : Tuckerman, who established 

 the group, mentions the decompound spikes as being branched 

 and androgynous, and the number of stigmata varying from 

 two to three, and of the four sections enumerated by him, the 

 writer has examined representatives of the IndiccB^ the Poly- 

 stachyoe and the Graciles^ all of which have been accepted by 

 Mr. Kiikenthal (1. c). 



Of these the Graciles should include distigmatic species with 

 mostly simple and single spikes; the Polystachyce^ on the 

 other hand, should possess numerous spikes, from two to four 

 together from each sheath, and with two or three stigmata, 

 while in the Indicce the spikes constitute a widely ramified 

 inflorescence of which the secondary and tertiary axes are 

 developed from perigynium-like organs, and the stigmata being 

 constantly three. Among the Graciles^ C. hriinnea Thunbg. 

 is a good type, and it is true that all the spikes are androgynous, 

 and that the spikes are very often only one or two together on 

 the same peduncle, and that the stigmata are but two. Never- 

 theless, this species can by no means be segregated from the 

 Carices genidnm on that account, but is barely referable to any 

 of the Vigneoe^ since the spikes are cylindrical, borne on long 

 and slender peduncles, besides that the structure of the peri- 

 gynium is very different from that of any member of the Vignece, 

 being ellipsoid, much flattened, prominently striate, hairy on 

 the nerves, and abruptly narrowed into a linear, bifid beak. It 

 happens, however, that the perigynium is sometimes glabrous 

 in ^on-Indian examples, as stated by Mr. Clarke, but even 

 such specimens would hardly be referable to the Yignece either. 



Of the second section, the Polystachyoe, C. Jamesonii Boott 

 shows us a plant with very long and slender, cylindrical, 

 androgynous spikes, borne on long peduncles and more or less 

 branched from the base. These branches are subtended by 

 narrow bracts, somewhat longer tlian the scales but otherwise 

 not different from these, and they all proceed from an ochrea- 

 like perigynium, but of which the flower is not developed ; 

 each secondary branch is thus merely the rhacheola extended, 

 as is very frequently observed in a number of Carices 

 gemcinoe, even if it may be somewhat abnormal in these. 

 Furthermore, in C. Jamesonii there are several peduncles 

 developed from each leaf-sheath, making the inflorescence 

 ample and rich-flowered, but otherwise the principal structure 

 is well comparable with that of the inflorescence of the Carices 

 genuirKB ; we suggest the affinity of this species to be with the 

 IlymenochlosncB. 



Much more singular in structure and habit are the IndiccB^ 

 of which we might consider C. cladostachya "Wahl. The 



