CXII. CYPERACEiE 
555 
Leaves usually shorter than the stem, flaccid. Umbel-rays 
rarely more than 2 in. Spikelets J in., red-brown, crowded 
in globose clusters. Glumes 10-30, closely imbricate, obtuse. 
Stamen usually 1. Nut nearly as long as the glume, ovoid, pale 
brown. 
Throughout India, in rice-fields and elsewhere, up to 8000 ft. — Common in 
all warm regions. 
3. Cyperus Haspan, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 600. Biennial, 
glabrous ; rhizome long with stems rising singly and far apart or 
short and the stems tufted ; stems 6-30 in., 3-angled or almost 
3 -winged near the top. Leaves short or long, sometimes none. 
Umbel-rays usually long and slender. Spikelets J in., red-brown, 
in clusters. Glumes 10-40, closely imbricate, obtuse or sometimes 
minutely pointed. Stamens 3 or 2. Nut less than half the length 
of the glume, ovoid, pale brown. 
Throughout India, common in rice-fields up to 3000 ft. — All warm regions. 
This species often flowers in its first season before the creeping rootstock 
is developed, in which state it is with difficulty distinguished from the annual 
C. flavidus, Retz. ; but the latter has usually only one stamen and the ripe nut 
is white. C. flavidus is abundant in rice-fields throughout India and is likely 
to occur in low, hot valleys. 
4. Cyperus niveus, Retz. ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 601. Perennial, 
glabrous ; stems 8-16 in., slender, closely arranged in a single 
row, the thickened bases touching and forming a woody rhizome 
with wiry rootlets. Leaves half as long as the stem. In- 
florescence capitate. Umbel-rays almost suppressed. Spikelets 
in., much flattened, white, in a single, terminal head. Glumes 
20-40, closely imbricate, strongly keeled, pointed. Stamens 1-3. 
Nut one third the length of the glume, ovoid, black. (Fig. 182.) 
Simla, common in forest undergrowth. — N. India, ascending to C000 ft. — 
S. Europe. 
5. Cyperus Atkinsoni, C. B. Clarke ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 603. 
Perennial, glabrous ; rhizome short, creeping ; stems crowded, 
2-8 in., thickened at the base. Leaves usually shorter than the 
stem. Umbel-rays short. Spikelets J-f in., much flattened, pale 
brown, in clusters. Glumes 20-30, closely imbricate, keeled, 
acute. Stamens 1-3. Nut half the length of the glume, ovoid, 
pale brown. 
Kotgurh. — N.W. India, ascending to 6000 ft. 
6. Cyperus compressus, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 605. Annual, 
glabrous ; stems tufted, 6-12 in. Leaves shorter than the stem. 
Umbel simple ; rays up to 6 in. Spikelets |-1 in., green, much 
flattened, in short spikes. Glumes 20-30, closely imbricate, 
streaked with brown, acutely keeled, tip linear, slightly recurved. 
