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Cyperus. | CYPERACEAE, 215 
a mel TAS 
1. ©. tenellus Linn. f. Suppl. (1781) 103.—A small densely tufted 
annual. Stems numerous, very slender, almost filiform, 1-3 in. high. 
Leaves few, much shorter than the stem, filiform. Spikelets 1-3 together, 
digitate, much flattened, oblong, obtuse, large for the size of the plant, 
11in. long; bracts 2, setaceous, one erect and continuous with the stem, 
the other much smaller. Glumes 10-25, regularly distichous, ovate, obtuse 
or mucronate, boat-shaped, conspicuously 5-9-nerved, varying in colour 
from almost white to red-brown. Stamens 1 or 2. Style-branches 3, 
linear. Nut rather more than 4 the length of the glume, elliptical, 
acutely trigonous, smooth.—Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 745; Benth. 
Fl. Austral. vii (1878) 265; C. B. Clarke in Fl. Cap. vii (1897) 164 ; 
Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 765. 
Norru IstaAnp: Brom the North Cape southwards to Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay, 
abundant. Sea-level to 1500 ft. November—December. 
A common South African plant, doubtfully indigenous in temperate Australia 
and New Zealand. 
2. C. vegetus Willd. Sp. Plant. i (1797) 283.—Roots fibrous. Stems 
1-2 ft. high, rather stout, smooth, sharply 3-angled above. Leaves shorter 
than the stem, rather flaccid, 4b in. broad; margins smooth. Inflorescence 
a terminal compound umbel varying from 1$ to 6in. diam.; rays 5-9, 
unequal, each terminated by a dense globose umbellule ; bracts about 6, 
similar to the leaves, long and spreading, the lowest in large specimens 
sometimes 18in. long. Spikelets very numerous, pale yellowish-green, 
much compressed, 4-2 in. long, 12-40-flowered. Glumes distichous, boat- 
shaped, ovate, apiculate, 3-nerved, margins membranous. Stamen 1. 
Nut about 2 the length of the glume, obovoid-triquetrous, shortly rostrate. 
Style-branches 3, linear.—Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 766. C. gracilis 
Buch. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. iii (1871) 210 (not of R. Br.). ©. Buchanani 
T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. x (1878) App. xh. 
Norra Istanp: Auckland—Oruru and Oruaiti Valleys, near Mangonui, 7. F. C. 
Wellington—Lower Hutt, Waiwetu, Wainuiomata, Greytown, Buchanan! T. Kirk! y 
Tararua Mountains, Cape Turakirae, B. C. Aston / November—January. 
The true home of this plant, as has been pointed out by Mr. C. B. Clarke (Journ. 
Bot. 1897, 71) is in temperate South America, and there can be no doubt that it exists 
only as an introduced species in New Zealand, as also in many localities in southern 
Europe, the Azores, North America, Tahiti, &c. I retain it in the Flora because it has 
been twice described as an indigenous species, and on account of the remarkable fact / 
that wherever found it presents all the appearance of a true native, and would certainly 
be taken as such by any one unacquainted with its origin. wee, lhe eel ere 
(U2, ber. 17. 
im mes vf. 
> 8 MARISCUS Gaertn. | 7 © % 
Stems erect, simple below the inflorescence, leafy at the base. Inflores- 
cence of the same forms as in Cyperus. Spikelets oblong or linear, com- 
pressed ; rhachilla disarticulating above the two lowest empty glumes, and 
falling away in one piece, leaving a terminal rounded boss or knob. All 
other characters as in Cyperus. 
Species about 180, found in all tropical and subtropical regions, but not extending 
into Europe. The single or Zealand species is endemic. 
f D. Keel, ) 
1. M. ustulatus,C. B. Clarke MS.— Very robust, 2-4 ft. high. Stem 
smooth, striate, trigonous, Lin. diam. Leaves crowded at the base of the 
stem, long, keeled, coriaceous, spongy towards the base, $-lin. broad ; 
