Hawaiian Species of Car ex — KRAUSS 
267 
Carex Meyenii Nees belongs to the sub- 
genus Eucarex, Coss. & Germ., section Hyme- 
nochlaenae, Drejer (Kukenthal 1909; 576), 
subsection Graciles, Tuckerman (Kukenthal 
1909: 599). The subsection is widespread 
in the Pacific from South America to the 
center of Asia. The Hawaiian plant has been 
described as Carex Remyi by Boeckeler, as 
Carex Meyenii by Nees, and, in part, as Carex 
Commersoniana by Kunth, all believing it 
to be a distinct species. Carex Commersoni- 
ana Kunth is described with "Sieb herb. 
Maurit. no. 50” cited as the type immediately 
following the binomial. However, after the 
description, Carex Meyenii of Nees is cited 
as a juvenile specimen of Carex Commer- 
soniana. Kunth’s description does not fit the 
Hawaiian plant, nor does Plate 155 of F. 
Boott in Illustrations of the Genus Carex, 
which was drawn from Mauritian material. 
There is no question that Kunth is naming 
the plant now known as Carex hrunnea 
Thunb. under which Kukenthal cites Sieber 
herb. Maurit. no. 50. Carex Commersoniana 
Kunth is a later homonym of Carex hrunnea 
Thunb. and cannot be applied to the Ha- 
waiian species. Hillebrand (1888: 489) de- 
scribes it as a new variety, /3, of Carex hrun- 
nea based on Mann & Brigham 391. Kiiken- 
thal also describes it as a variety of Carex 
hrunnea. 
Authentic specimens of the Japanese Carex 
hrunnea Thunb. were secured from the Uni- 
versity of Kyoto, Japan. They are not the 
same species as the Hawaiian plant though 
they do clearly belong to the same subsection. 
The differences are pronounced. The peri- 
gynia in the Hawaiian plants are lanceolate 
with long tapering rostra. Those in the Jap- 
anese material (Eaurie 4943) are broadly 
ovate to circular in outline with an abrupt 
narrow rostrum. Further, the surface of the 
perigynia in the Japanese material is strongly 
hispid with prominent white hairs. The Ha- 
waiian perigynia have only setae on the mar- 
gins. The bracts in the Japanese specimens 
are broad ovate; those in the Hawaiian ones 
are much narrower. 
The perigynia, in fact, more closely ap- 
proach those in the Chinese Carex longi- 
cruris Nees. However, the long stigmas and 
the extreme branching spikes as well as the 
greater size in the latter make it a remote 
member of the subsection. 
Carex Meyenii Nees is found on all the 
main islands but seems to have its center of 
distribution in the west, indicating a center 
of dispersion from either Kauai or Oahu. 
Carex Nealae sp. nov. 
Figs. 1 Oa-c, 11 
Rhizomatis distinctis lignosis caespitosis in 
apicibus, squamis radicibus 4-6 mm. latis 
1-4 cm. longis 2-5 in culmis caducis, culmis 
1.5-2 mm. latis 30-45 cm. longis erectis tri- 
angulis striatis glabris fuscis, laminis 4-5 
mm. latis 15-50 cm. longis 3-10 in culmis 
saepe ad apicem compressis inflorescentiis ex- 
cedendis marginibus superioribus scabris in- 
ferioribus glabris, vaginis membranis hya- 
linis clausis laminis culmibusque in fasciculo 
tenendis, inflorescentiis 3-4 mm. latis 4-6 
cm. longis ramosis nodis 1-5 spiciferis 1-5 
nodis, internodis inferis 1-2 cm. longis supris 
brevioribus, nodis bractis laminiferis inclusis, 
spicis 3-4 mm. latis 1.5-5 cm. longis andro- 
gynis praeter terminalis masculis multiflori- 
bus, pedunculis 3-5 mm. longis includendis 
in ocresis bipartitis in apicibus purpurei- 
maculosis, squamis foeminis 1.4 mm. latis 
2.5 mm. longis ovatis emarginatis cum costa 
alba interdum breve aristatis brevis margini- 
bus hyalinis rubris aut purpureis, squamis 
masculis 1.5 mm. latis 5 mm. longis lanceo- 
latis emarginatis costa alba in marginibus ru- 
bris aut purpureis, utriculis 1.5-2 mm. latis 
3-4 mm. longis ovoideis aut latis ovoideis 
stipitatis valde 5-6 nervosis fuscis cum glan- 
dibus rubris maculosis, rostris brevibus apici- 
bus integribus, achaenis obovoide biconvexis 
rugosis fuscis, stylis in duo stigmatis glandu- 
losis 2-3 mm. longis divisis. 
