558 
CXII. CYPERACEiE 
margins narrowly scarious. Stamens 3. Nut one third the length 
of the glume, narrowly ovoid, pale brown. 
Throughout India, ascending to 6000 ft. — All warm regions. 
13. Cyperus exaltatus, Betz. ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 617. Annual or 
sometimes biennial, glabrous ; stems 3-6 ft. Leaves about half 
as long as the stem, J in. broad. Umbels compound, 6-12 in. 
diam. Spikelets f-J in., very numerous, red-brown, in linear- 
oblong spikes 1-2 in. long. Glumes 10-15, acute, closely 
imbricate. Nut barely half the length of the glume, ovoid, white 
or pale brown. 
Throughout India, ascending to 3000 ft., common in rice-fields. — S. Europe, 
N. Africa. > 
4. MARISCUS. From the Celtic mar, a bog, swamp ; referring 
to the habitat of most species. — Warm and temperate regions. 
Perennial, glabrous herbs having the general aspect and 
characters of Cyperus, usually growing on grassy hill-sides. 
Umbels simple ; rays 5-10, short. Bracts long. Spikelets J in. 
or rather less, linear, not flattened, crowded in terminal spikes. 
Glumes 4-5, in 2 opposite series, persistent, the two lowest and 
the uppermost minute, empty, the intermediate 1 or 2 containing 
2 - sexual flowers. Axis of spikelet disarticulating and falling off 
in fruit just abo-ve the 2 lowest glumes. Bristles none. Style 
3- branched. Nut two thirds the length of the glume, ovoid-oblong, 
3 -sided. 
The three species described below are closely allied, and were considered by 
Bentham as varieties of M. umbellatus. 
Rootstock producing stolons . . . . . 1. M. paniceus. 
Rootstock without stolons. 
Length of spikes less than twice their breadth. Fruiting 
spikelets pointing upwards . . . . .2. M. cyperinus 
Length of spikes nearly thrice their breadth. Fruiting 
spikelets spreading horizontally . . . .3. M. Sieberianus . 
1. Mariscus paniceus, Vahl ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 620. Rootstock 
producing long stolons ; stems J-2 ft. Leaves J in. broad, 
flaccid. Umbel-rays \ in. or less. Spikes J in. Fertile flower 1. 
Nut black. 
Throughout India, ascending to 6000 ft. — Tropical Asia. 
2. Mariscus cyperinus, Vahl ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 621. Root- 
stock hardly J in., not producing stolons ; stems 1-2 ft. Leaves 
| in. broad. Umbel-rays |-1 in., usually curved, acutely 3- 
angled. Spikes short, less than twice their breadth. Fruiting 
spikelets pointing upwards. Fertile flowers usually 2. 
Throughout India, ascending to 6000 ft. — Tropical Asia. 
