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‘ 
Scirpus. CYPERACEAE. 221 
Spies: ] (ied) 
2. S. basilaris.C. B. Clarke in Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 772, and 
Ill. Cyp. (1909) t. xlvii, f. 3, 4—A dwarf species forming dense tufts 1-3 in. 
diam. Stems very short, }-in. long, much branched at the base, leafy. 
Leaves far overtopping the stems, }-Idin. long, sheathing at the base, 
semiterete above, channelled in front, convex at the back, tip obtuse. 
Spikelets terminal, solitary or rarely 2 together, concealed amongst the 
leaves and sometimes almost radical, = -¢in. long, ovoid, obtuse, pale- 
ereen; bract long, leafy. Glumes broadly ovate, obtuse, with broad 
white membranous margins, and a stout green midrib which is usually 
produced into a thick excurrent tip. Stamens 2. Style-branches 2. 
Nut orbicular-obovoid, not angled nor trigonous, slightly compressed, 
obtuse, smooth but not polished, minutely dotted, light- or dark-brown.— 
Isolepis basilaris Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 302. I. novae-zealandiae 
Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxi (1889) 102. 
Norra Istanp: Hawke’s Bay —Mud-banks by the Ngaruroro River, Colenso! 
T. Kirk! Petrie! Soura Isnanp: Westland—Jackson’s, Teremakau River, Petrie / 
Otago—Not uncommon in the middle portion of the Clutha Valley, Roxburgh, 
Beaumont, Spear-grass Flat, Petrie! Pomahaka, 7. Kirk / Sea-level to 2000 ft. 
November—March. 
A curious little plant, in its usual state easily distinguished by the very short stems 
with the spikelets concealed by the leaves. But some forms have the stems more 
developed, and are then easily taken for small varieties of S. Aucklandicus, which, 
however, has a very different nut. 
3. §. Aucklandieus Boeck. in Linnaea, xxxvi (1869-70) 491.—Forming 
compact grassy patches 2-6in. diam. or more. Stems numerous, densely 
crowded, much branched at the base, stout or slender, striate, leafy at the 
base, 1-6in. high. Leaves 2-6, equalling or longer than the stems, 
stout or slender, usually more or less coriaceous and rigid but sometimes 
almost flaccid, semiterete, convex on the back, grooved in front, tips 
obtuse. Spikelet solitary or rarely 2, small, 7z-Jin. long, broadly ovoid, 
varying in colour from dark chestnut-brown to pale whitish-green ; bract 
very long, leafy, obtuse at the tip. Glumes few, ovate, obtuse, concave, 
often with a thick excurrent keel, very variable in colour. Stamens 3 
or 2. Style-branches 3. Nut elliptic-ovoid, compressed, trigonous with 
the angles rounded, white or pale-yellow, smooth but not polished.— 
Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 773. Isolepis Aucklandica Hook. f. Fl. 
Antarct. i (1844) 88, t.50; Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 302. Isolepis cartilaginea 
var. vigida Berggr. in Minnesk. Fisiog. Sallsk. Lund. (1877) n. vin, 23. 
I. alpina Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. 11 (1860) 86 (in part). 
a a 
Var. subeueullata/C. B. Clarke in Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 773.—Much more 
slender and diffuse. “Stems weak, almost filiform ; spikelet pale, solitary, 3-6-flowered. 
Glumes slightly hooded at the tip.—Isolepis subcucullata Berggren, l.c. 22, t. 5, f. 16-20. 
Norra Isuanp: Very plentiful around Tongariro and Ruapehu, T. F.C. ; Rangipo 
Desert, Petrie/ Ruahine Mountains, Colenso/ ascending to 5000ft.; Tararua 
Mountains, B. C. Aston! Petrie! Sour Istanp : Not uncommon in mountain-swamps 
throughout. Stewart IsLAND, AUCKLAND, CAMPBELL, AND ANTIPODES ISLANDS: 
Plentiful in moist places, descending to sea-level. Macquarte Istanp: H. Hamilton / 
A variable plant. The typical state can be recognized without much difficulty 
by the dense leafy habit, the leaves frequently overtopping the stems, by the small 
usually solitary spikelets, and pale elliptic-ovoid nut. But lowland states, with a 
more slender and less leafy habit, are difficult to separate from S. cernuus. Other forms 
approach very closely to S. antarcticus. According to Mr. C. B, Clarke, the species 
is also found in Tasmania and Amsterdam Island. 
