108 



RUMPHIUS'S HERBARIUM AMBOINENSE 



The identity of Carex amboinica minor Rumph. with Scleria 

 lithosperma Sw. is very probable. Hasskarl has suggested, 

 Neue Schliissel (1866) 155, that it is Scleria trialata Poir., a 

 species originally described from Madagascar. The specimen 

 from the Moluccas, determined by Brongniart, in Duperry's Voy. 

 Bot. (1829) 165, and referred by Kunth with doubt to Scleria 

 trialata Poir., is probably Scleria bancana Miq. 



SCLERIA BANCANA Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. Suppl. (1861) 602. 



Carex amboinica I major Rumph. Herb. Amb. 6: 20, t. 8, f. 1? 

 Amboina, Gelala and Soja road, Robinson PL Rumph. Amb. Jf33, August, 

 September, 1913, on barren, grassy hillsides. 



The identification follows a suggestion made by Doctor Robin- 

 son, who considers this plant as probably representing the 

 Rumphian species. It is to be noted, however, that Rumphius's 

 figure and description of Carex amboinica major call for a plant 

 with pseudoverticillate leaves, while in Scleria bancana Miq. the 

 leaves are all alternate and distant. It is suspected that the 

 plant Rumphius intended is Scleria sumatrensis Retz., S. scro- 

 biculata Nees, or some very closely allied form, such as S. 

 multifoliata Boeckl. Historically the first reference to Rumphius 

 is that by Linnaeus, in Stickman Herb. Amb. (1754) 25, 

 where under t. 8 he includes, by error, with Carex amboinica, 

 Lithospermum amboinicum and Arundinella; for the latter two 

 t. 9 was intended, and the same error is repeated in Amoen. 

 Acad. 4 (1759) 134. Burman f., Fl. Ind. (1768) 19, based his 

 Schoenus paniculatus partly on Carex amboinica Rumph., but 

 the type was a specimen from Java, and the species must be 

 interpreted from the Javan specimen. It is supposed to include 

 both Scleria sumatrensis Retz. and S. alata Thw. The Rumphian 

 figure and description have been referred by other authors to 

 Scleria flagellum Sw., S. tessellata Brongn., and S. approximata 

 Hassk. 



CYPERACEAE of uncertain status 



Cyperus rotundus Rumph. Herb. Amb. 6: 4 quoad humilior, altior, gramen 

 bufonum, et III inodorus. 



The descriptions of these four forms manifestly pertain to the Cyperaceae, 

 but the data given are too vague to warrant the definite reduction of them 

 to any particular genus or species. For the most part, apparently, species of 

 Cyperus and Fimbristylis are intended. 



Carex amboinica III Rumph. Herb. Amb. 6: 20. 



A coarse sedge from Bali, there known as tallan tallan; probably one of 

 the large species of Cyperus. Hasskarl, Neue Schliissel (1866) 155, thought 

 that it might be Rhynchospora aurea Vahl=i?. corymbosa (Linn.) Britt. 



