CXII. CYPERACEiE 
55 7 
sometimes 20 in. diam. ; primary rays 3-5, up to 12 in. long. 
Spikelets in., yellow-brown, in loosely arranged, linear spikes 
1-2 in. Glumes 10-20, slightly imbricate in fruit, strongly keeled, 
acute, margins nerveless. Stamens 2 or 3. Nut nearly as long as 
the glume, narrowly ovoid, pale brown. 
Common in rice-fields throughout India, ascending to 5000 ft. — Warm 
regions of the Old World. 
9. Cyperus distans, Linn. /. ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 607. Perennial, 
glabrous, frequently producing stolons ; stems 1-3 ft. Leaves 
often as long as the stem, in. broad. Umbel compound ; 
primary rays usually 2-6 in., sometimes much longer. Bracts 
longer than the umbel. Spikelets f-1 in., very narrow, red-brown, 
nodding when young, spreading at right angles when mature, in 
spikes J-2 in. Glumes 10-20, not imbricated, obtuse. Stamens 3. 
Nut nearly as long as the glume, narrowly oblong, pale brown. 
Throughout India, ascending to 5000 ft. — All warm regions. 
10. Cyperus pilosus, Vahl ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 609. Perennial, 
producing stolons, glabrous except the rhachis of the spikes ; 
stems 1-3 ft., acutely 3-angled at the toj3. Leaves about three 
quarters the length of the stem, J-J in. broad. Umbel compound, 
sometimes 16 in. diam. ; primary rays 2-6 in. Spikelets nearly 
J in., red brown, nodding when young, spreading at right angles 
when mature, in spikes \-2 in. ; rhachis hairy. Glumes 10-20, 
imbricate, obtuse, margins white. Stamens 3. Nut two thirds 
the length of the glume, narrowly ovoid, pointed, black, faces 
concave. 
Abundant throughout India, ascending to 5000 ft. — Most tropical regions. 
11. Cyperus tegetum, Boxb. ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 613. Perennial, 
glabrous ; rhizome horizontal, thick ; stems 3-6 ft., robust, 
3- angled at the top. Leaves usually few, sometimes none, much 
shorter than the stem, | in. broad. Umbel usually compound, 
4- 12 in. diam. ; primary rays usually numerous, slender. Spikelets 
f in., red-brown, in numerous, short spikes. Glumes 10-20, oblong, 
obtuse, slightly imbricate, spreading obliquely in fruit. Stamens 3. 
Nut half the length of the glume, oblong, dark brown. 
Throughout India, ascending to 6000 ft., sometimes cultivated. 
Calcutta matting is made from the stems of this species. 
12. Cyperus rotundus, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 614. Perennial, 
glabrous ; rhizome wiry, often thickened into ovoid, black, woody 
tubers ; stems 6-30 in., 3-angled at the top. Leaves nearly as 
long as the stem, sometimes longer, J-J in. broad. Umbels simple 
or compound, 1-4 in. diam. or more ; primary rays 2-8 in. Spike- 
lets f-lj in., red-brown, in short spikes. Glumes 20-50, obtuse, 
