118 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. 1, April, 1947 
base, contracted to the indurated cylindric per¬ 
sistent 0.2 mm. style base which is straight or 
slightly twisted. 
Fiji islands; Viti Levu, Taunaisali, Wai- 
nisavulevu-Nubulolo divide, the central pla¬ 
teau between the Wainimala and Singatoka 
Rivers, clumps in swampy rain forest, 3,800 
feet altitude, August 18, 1937, H. St. John 
18,330 (type in Bishop Mus.). 
There have been only three species of 
Car ex known in the Fijian flora and none of 
them appears to be closely related to this 
new species. 
The new C. vitiensis is a member of the 
subgenus Eucarex and apparently is to be 
placed within the ample limits of section 
Elatae. No very close relative is known, but 
it appears to be somewhat remotely related 
to C. longebrachiata Boeck. (C. longijolm 
R. Br., not of Thuill. or Host) of eastern 
Australia. C. longebrachiata Boeck. has the 
leaves exceeding the culms, coriaceous; the 
spikes androgynous or gynecandrous or rarely 
unisexual, the upper 1-2 strictly staminate, 
the others pistillate, spikes rather densely 
flowered, narrowly cylindric, often pendu¬ 
lous; the perigynium 6 mm. long, long at¬ 
tenuate to the base, broadest near the middle, 
the beak about 1/4 of the total length; and 
the achene obovate above the stipitate base, 
densely punctate, the indurated base of the 
style contorted. In contrast, the new C. viti¬ 
ensis has the leaves about 4/5 the length 
of the culms, chartaceous; the spikes an¬ 
drogynous, only the terminal ones largely 
staminate; spikes loosely flowered, very slen¬ 
der cylindric, erect or the tips slightly diverg¬ 
ing; the perigynium 4.8-5.2 mm. long, short 
attenuate to the base, broadest 1/3 of the 
way from the base, the beak about 1/3 of 
the total length; and the achene narrowly 
elliptic above the stipitate base, smooth and 
shining, the indurated base of the style 
straight or slightly twisted. 
The specific name is derived from the 
name of the island, Viti Levu, where the 
plant grows. 
