43 
Booth et al ., Four new Cyperus 
Distribution and habitat : Cyperus 
multispiceus is endemic to Queensland and 
has been recorded from Palmerston N.P. 
northwards to Cape York (Map 3). It is found 
on the margins of rainforest and amongst 
riparian and semi-deciduous vine forest on 
coarse sandy loams. Cyperus multispiceus 
is often seen resprouting while evidence of 
recent fire is still clearly visible. 
Notes : Cyperus multispiceus is distinctive 
within this group of species by the tufted habit, 
triquetrous culms and large number of spikes 
(20-80) in the compound inflorescence. The 
bases of the plants are much thickened by the 
fibrous sheaths. 
The Queensland Herbarium has 42 
collections of Cyperus multispiceus , but 
only a handful possesses spikelets with 
fully mature nuts (without * in specimens 
cited above). The plants seem to reproduce 
predominately vegetatively. Many specimens 
have white immature nuts, the sides of the 
nuts being clearly visible within the spikelets. 
The mature nuts, when present are golden 
brown to brown. Often the glumes and nuts 
fall away, leaving behind the rachis which has 
the remains of the three stamens still attached 
to it (Fig. 41). These features also occur in the 
other three new species that are described in 
this paper and may reflect a common origin 
for these species. 
The specimen Jago 4586 from Mt Sorrow 
W of Cape Tribulation possesses glumes that 
are mucronate and up to 3.5 mm long, but this 
is atypical. 
Etymology : From the Latin multi- (many) 
and spiceus (spiked), so named because of the 
numerous spikes in the inflorescence. 
5. Cyperus sharpei R.Booth, D.J.Moore & 
Hodgon, species nova a Cypero pedunculosa 
rhizomate obesiore et habitatione in clivis 
aridis saxosis non in silva humidissima 
differens. Typus: Queensland. Cook District: 
Watsonville, 29 July 1967, L.J.Brass 33616 
(holo: BRI). 
Cyperus sp. (Herberton RR. Sharpe 1449); 
Booth (2007: 58). 
Plants slender, perennial, glabrous, slightly 
glaucous. Culms erect, trigonous, striate, 30- 
45 cm long, 0.6-2 mm wide, with a bulbous 
base on a short, stout rhizome. Leaves basal, 
30-65 cm long, l-5mm wide. Involucral 
bracts 3-5, unequal in length, longer than 
inflorescence, scabrous. Proximal bract 10-23 
cmlong, 1.4-3.8 mm wide. Inflorescence once 
compound, 3-6 cm long, 3-9 cm wide, dense. 
Rays unequal, 1-6. Spikes 2-7, globose or 
ovoid or hemispherical, dense, 7-25 mm long, 
12-30 mm wide, with 6-20 spikelets. Spikelets 
7-25 mm long, 2.1-3.3 mm wide, 10-34 
flowered, digitate, spreading, linear. Glumes 
distichous, 2.5-3.4 mm long, apex mucronate, 
one half to two thirds imbricate, keeled, 
with straight mucro, 1.4-1.6 mm apart, 4-6 
nerved, with a straight keel. Rachilla straight, 
winged. Stamens 3; anthers linear, connective 
setulose, 1.2-1.5 mm long. Style shorter than 
stigmas, flat, 0.4-1 mm long. Stigmas 3. Nut 
obovoid to ellipsoid, trigonous, half as long 
as glume, 1.5—1.9 mm long, 0.7-1 mm wide, 
granulose, apex apiculate to rounded; brown 
to light brown. Fig. 4 A-E. 
Additional selected specimens examined : Queensland. 
Cook District: On Silver Valley Road, 3.4 km from Mt 
Misery, Atherton, Apr 1988, Forster PIF3961 (BRI). 
North Kennedy District: Herberton Range, Toy Creek, 
Feb 2001, Booth 2568 (BRI); Top of ridge behind 
Caravan Park, Herberton, Jun 1975, Sharpe s.n. (BRI 
[AQ468247]); Herberton, Jan 1918, Michael s.n. (BRI 
[AQ 320372]); Mountain behind Caravan Park, 2 km N 
of Herberton on road to Atherton, Jun 1975, Sharpe 1455 
(BRI); Junction of Cooloomon and little Cooloomon 
Creeks, SW of Herberton, May 1962, Whitehonse s.n. 
(BRI [AQ 320373]); 1.5 km W of Herberton on Herberton 
- Petford road. May 1983, Conn 1143 (BRI); Hillside 
behind Caravan Park, Herberton, on Atherton road, June 
1975, Sharpe 1449 (BRI). 
Distribution and habitat : Cyperus sharpei 
is endemic to Queensland where it has been 
recorded predominantly from the Herberton 
Range and vicinity; there also appears to 
be a population at Mt Mulligan, an outlying 
sandstone formation near Dimbulah (Map 
4). Plants grow in open eucalypt woodland in 
skeletal soils. 
Notes : Cyperus sharpei is distinctive within 
this group of species by the compound 
inflorescence, the trigonous culms and the 
stems closely arranged on a stout rhizome. 
The Queensland Herbarium holds six 
collections of Cyperus from this group 
collected in the Mt Mulligan area, two 
