554 
CXII. CYPERACEiE 
of the stem or sometimes none. Umbels simple or compound, 
one or two of the central rays usually suppressed so that the point 
of forking is occupied with a sessile cluster of spikes or spikelets ; 
sometimes the rays are altogether suppressed when the spikelets 
become capitate. Bracts unequal, spreading. Spikelets linear, 
more or less flattened, in clusters or spikes. Glumes 8-50, in two 
opposite rows, usually imbricate, the two lowest empty, the upper- 
most 1-3 empty or containing male flowers, the intermediate 
containing 2 -sexual flowers. Axis of spikelets persistent in fruit, 
the intermediate glumes falling off successively from the base of 
the spikelets. Ovary passing gradually into the 3 -branched style. 
Nut 3-sided. 
Spikelets clustered, not spicate. 
Spikelets red-brown. 
Stems 6 in. or less. Glumes long-pointed 
Stems 6-30 in. Glumes obtuse or minutely pointed. 
Nut nearly as long as the glume .... 
Nut less than half the glume .... 
Spikelets white or very pale brown. 
Spikelets in a single head ..... 
Spikelets in an umbel ...... 
Spikelets in spikes. 
Annuals. Root fibrous. Stems usually slender. 
Spikelets 1 in. Glumes 20-30 .... 
Spikelets J-J in. Glumes 8-20. 
Spikes ovoid, |— § in. . 
Spikes linear, 1-2 in. . 
Perennials. 1 Rootstock creeping. Stems usually robust. 
Spikelets 4 in. or less. 
Axis of spike hairy ...... 
Axis of spike glabrous . . 
Spikelets f-1 £ in. 
Glumes distant, not imbricate .... 
Glumes closely imbricate. 
Stems 3-6 ft. Leaves short or none . 
Stems |— 2| ft. Leaves long .... 
1. G. uncinatus. 
2. C. difformis. 
3. G. Haspan. 
4. C. niveus. 
5. C. Atkinsoni. 
6. C. compressus. 
7. G. ar {status. 
8. G. Iria. 
10. C. pilosus. 
13. C. exaltatus. 
9. C. distans. 
11. G. tegetum. 
12. C. rotundus. 
1. Cyperus uncinatus, Poir. ; Encyc. vii. 247. Annual, 
glabrous ; stems tufted, 2-6 in., very slender. Leaves not longer 
than the stem, linear. Umbel-rays slender. Spikelets iri 
red-brown, in globose clusters. Glumes about 20, 3-nerved, tip 
long, linear, recurved. Stamens usually 2. Nut less than half 
the length of the glume, ovoid, pale brown. 
Throughout India, ascending to 5000 ft. — All warm regions. 
Described in the FI. Br. Ind vi. 598 as G. cuspidatus, H.B. & K., but 
Mr. C. B. Clarke now considers it as identical with G. uncinatus, Poir., which is 
the older name. 
2. Cyperus difformis, Linn. : FI. Br. Ind. vi. 599. Annual, 
glabrous ; stems tufted, 6-18 in., acutely 3-angled near the top. 
1 Individuals of this section occasionally flower during their first season 
before the creeping rootstock has developed. 
