416 
CYPERACE JS. 
4. ABILGAARDIA, Yahl. 
Flowers hermaphrodite, in many-flowered spikelets. Glumes imbri- 
cated in two regular rows, but the rachis twisting as the flowers 
mature. Hypogynous bristles 0. Stamens 1-3. Style trifid, breaking 
away above the thickened base. Achene triquetrous. — Perennial 
herbs, with stems leafy at the base only, and solitary or umbellate 
spikes. Distrib. Tropics of both hemispheres. Species 10. 
1. A. monostachya, Vahl ; Kunth, Enum. ii. 247. Perennial, 
densely tufted. Stems slender, \-l foot long. Leaves subulate, rigid, 
much shorter than the stem. Spikelets solitary, terminal, ovate, | in. 
long, 8-10-flowered. Glumes deltoid, compressed laterally, | in. long, 
acute, coriaceous, with a green keel and whitish sides. Stamens 3 
Style long, ciliated, trifid. Achene white, rugose, turbinate. Cyperus 
monostachyus, Linn. ; Bottb. Descr. 18, tab. 13 t fig. 3. 
Mauritius, in dry soil near Port Louis and the lower part of the Pouce range. 
Tropics of both hemispheres. 
5. ARTHROSTYLIS, 11. Br. 
Glumes 4-6, subdistichous, much imbricated, the two inner enclosing 
the single hermaphrodite flower, the rest barren. Hypogynous bristles 
or scales 0. Stamens 3 ; filaments long. Style deeply trifid, falling 
away and leaving its bulbous base at the top of the trigonous 
achene. — Densely-tufted leafless perennials, with the spikelets con- 
gested into a single terminal head. Distrib. Three other species, 
severally Ceylonese, Chinese, and Australian. 
1. A. Thouarsii, Kunth, Enum. ii. 284. Perennial, densely tufted. 
Stems above a foot long, very slender, wiry, triquetrous, deeply sulcate. 
Spikelets 4-10, sessile in a single terminal head, bracteated by 2 very 
minute linear leaves, each lanceolate, acuminate, under £ in. long. 
Two inner glumes distichous, firm in texture, glossy, lanceolate, 
acuminate, with a 3-nerved green keel and pale brown sides, the outer 
much smaller, linear acuminate. Achene glossy, greenish, trique- 
trous. 
Mauritius, Du Petit Thouars. Also Madagascar, Gerrard. 
6. ASTEROCHCETE, Nees. 
Flowers 2, both hermaphrodite, in a spikelet of about half a dozen 
subdistichous lanceolate glumes. Hypogynous bristles about 6, ciliated, 
persistent. Stamens 3. Style trifid, breaking off above the base. 
Achene triquetrous, beaked with the persistent base of the style. — 
Coarse perennials, with leafy triquetrous stems, the spikelets usually 
crowded and arranged in ample panicles. Distrib. Cape and Poly- 
nesia. Species 6. 
