230 



CHINA. 



[ Cyperacece. 



membranacea nuda subulatis asperis, nuce (livide fusca) globoso-ovata obtuse subtrigona 

 leviter undulato-rugosa pubescenti-hirtula mucronata, mucrone concolore, hypogynio tri- 

 partite lobis lanceolatis nuce dimidio brevioribus. 



Hab. Circa urbem Macao ; Millett ; G. H. Vachell, n. CO. (ex parte.) 



This species obviously approaches extremely close to S. ciliaris, but is not only very different in habit, 

 but in the structure of the hypogynium, colour of the fruit, shape of the lobe that is opposite to the leaf, and 

 in the want of the cilise on the bracteaj and bracteolse. We have only seen one specimen sent by Mr. 

 Millett, and another, but imperfect one, in Prof. Henslow's collection. The spikelets are in pairs, one male, 

 the other female.] 



3. S. margaritifera. Willd. — N. ab E. 1. c. p. 118. (cum. char, et syn.) 



Trib. VII. Carice;e. N. ab E. I. c. 

 15. CAREX. Linn. N. ab E. I.e. 



1. C. valida. N. ab E. I. c. p. 123. (cum. char.) — C. ramosa. N. ab E. in Herb. Lindl. 

 Hab. Ad Macao et in insulis vicinis ; Millett. Vachell, n. GG. (ex parte.) 



Perigynium immaturum lanceolatum, acuminatum, ore acute bilobo, pubescens, maturum ovato-trigonurn, 

 nervosum, parum pubescens vel glabrum, rostro brevi spatio bifido, ore primum membranaceo obliquo. 

 Squama acutiusculae vel acuta;, nec mucronata>. Spicula: paniculata; potius sive thyrsoidese, quam corym- 

 bosae. Folia lata, lsevia, margine scabra, supra trinervia. Culrnus inferne crassitie pennse scriptoriae. 



[The above observations seem to have been made by our friend to show that this species was distinct from 

 C. ramosa, Schk. In that species, however, Willdcnow, on Schkuhr's authority, asserts that there are only 

 two stigmas, notwithstanding that the fruit is triquetrous ; it comes from the Mauritius. Sprengel combines 

 with it a different plant, C. cruciata, Wahl. and Willd., and draws up a character, probably without 

 seeing either, which partakes of both : C. cruciata, however, is from Canton, nor is there anything in 

 Wahlenberg's description to induce us to suppose it distinct from the above C. valida, N. ab E., except 

 where Wahlenberg says that the fruit has a short beak, while in our plant it is rather long; we consider 

 them the same : the C. cruciata, N. ab E. 1. c. p. 123, from Nepal and the Peninsula of India, is quite dis- 

 tinct, and is C. Hookeriana, Herb. Am.] 



2. C. Retzii. N. ab E. I. c. p. 128. (cum syn.) 



[This we have not seen, nor does our friend Nees von Esenbeck appear to have met with any plant agree- 

 ing precisely with lletz's and Wahlenberg's description: we have, however, a solitary specimen before us 

 from Canton, which we suspect must be the same, an account of which we subjoin, as it differs in one or two 

 points from the character usually given. 



Summitas sola adest, glabra, triquetra, pedem longa. Bractcw anguste lineari-acuminata?, apice trique- 

 trae, margine scaberrimai, inferiores spicas proprias sequantes, superiores spicis breviores. Vagince laxos, in- 

 iiato-tubulosse, membranacea?, lobulo oppositifolio brevi-rotundato. Spicce haud approximate nec tamen 

 distantes, in nostra 6, exsertae at haud longe pedunculata?, pedunculis inferioribus vagina duplo longioribus 1 h 

 uuciam longis, erectaa, cylindrical, laxiuscula;, floribus in nostra ir.ultis caducis, inferiores quatuor feminese, 

 quinta fere omnino feminea flosculo unico vel gemino masculo versus spicas basin, sexta seu summa mascula 

 attamen florsculis paucis ad spicse medium instructa, hinc forsan hermaphrodita. Squama; patentes subu- 

 latse fructu paullo longiores, stramineas nervo carinali viridi. Stigmata tria. Fructus ventricoso-trigoni 

 basi attenuati apice rostrati, valde nervoso-striati, setulis brcvissimis hispiduli, patentes, rostro rectiusculo 

 vel subrecurvo. Rachilla ad florum insertiones excavata. 



