230 CYPERACEAE. [ Schoenus. 
obovoid, obtusely trigonous, conspicuously reticulated, white. — Cheesem, 
Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 783. 8. Browni Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 
998: Benth. Fl. Austral. vii (1878) 373. Chaetospora imberbis R. Br. Prodr. 
(1810) 233: Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. 1 (1853) 274 ; Fl. Tasm. 11 (1860) 82. 
Var. Jaxiflorus C. B. Clarke. —Stems very slender, lax, sometimes 2 ft. long. 
Inflorescence much more lax; clusters mostly lateral; spikelets often long-peduncled. 
—§, laxiflorus Steud. Cyp. (1855) 166. 8. vaccilans 7’. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. x 
(1878) 421. 
Nortn Istanp: Auckland—Cape Maria van Diemen and Tapotopoto Bay, 
H. Carse! Mangonui, 7. F. C. ; Puhipuhi, 7. Kirk ; Whangarei, H. Carse / vicinity of 
Auckland, 7’. F. C., Petrie! East Coast, W. Colenso ! Var. laxiflorus : Between Taheke 
and Opaneke, Petrie/ ravines near the base of Mount Wynyard, 7. Kirk! between Te 
Aroha and Katikati, Adams!  Taranaki—White Cliffs, 7. Ff. C. Sour Isnanp: 
Canterbury—Kowai Pass, 7. Kirk/ (the typical form). Sea-level to 2000 ft. 
December—March. 
Common in eastern Australia, from Queensland to Tasmania. 
Risr. 
7. S. nitens ,Poir. Encycl. Suppl. ui (1811) 251. — Rhizome slender, 
creeping. Stems densely tufted, slender, wiry, grooved, leafy at the base, 
2-12in. high. Leaves few, shorter than the stems, semiterete, deeply chan- 
nelled in front, grooved on the back; sheaths chestnut-brown or blackish- 
brown, shining, grooved. Inflorescence a terminal head of 1-15 densely 
crowded and sessile spikelets; bracts $-lin. long, exceeding the spikelets, 
continuous with the stem, so that the head appears lateral. Spikelets ovoid 
to lanceolate-ovoid, somewhat turgid, $-Lin. long, 2- or more rarely 
3-flowered, chestnut-brown to blackish-brown. Glumes 4-6, obscurely 
distichous, broadly ovate, obtuse, concave, keeled, shining; the 2 or rarely 
the 3 outer smaller and empty. Hypogynous bristles 6, usually longer than 
the nut, plumose at the base with long hairs. Stamens 3. Style-branches 
3. Nut ovoid, obscurely trigonous, smooth and shining, pale-brown to dark- 
brown.—Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 299 ; Benth. Fl. Austral. vi (1878) 
362: Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 783. S. Moorei T. Kirk wm Trans. 
N.Z. Inst. xiii (1881) 384 (not of Benth.). Chaetospora nitens R. Br. Prodr. 
(1810) 233; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i (1853) 274; Fl. Tasm. 11 (1860) 82. 
Scirpus nitens Boeck. in Linnaea, xxxvi (1869-70) 696. 
Var. eoneinnus.—Smaller, more rigid and wiry, 1-3in. high. Spikelets solitary or 
rarely 2 together, slightly compressed, }-fin. long, dark-brown or almost black. Nut 
rather larger, broadly ovoid, trigonous, sometimes scabrid at the tip.—. concinnus 
Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 299. Chaetospora concinna Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i 
(1853) 274, t. 62, f. B. Ascends to 4500 it. on Ruapehu. 
Nort anp Sours Istanps, Stewart Istanp: From Lake Taupo southwards, 
but often local. Sea-level to 2500 ft. December—March. 
A most variable plant. Hooker’s S. concinnus appears to me to be a depauperated 
state connected with the type by numerous intermediates, and I have consequently 
followed Mr. C. B. Clarke in reducing it to S. nitens. The typical form is not uncommon 
in Australia, ranging from Queensland to Tasmania and Western Australia. 
9, CLADIUM P. Browne. 1756 
Perennial herbs. Stems stout or slender, terete or compressed, some- 
times leafy throughout, sometimes at the base only, or the leaves reduced 
to sheathing scales. Leaves terete or compressed, more rarely vertically 
flattened and equitant at the base. Inflorescence paniculate. Spikelets 
numerous, rarely few, 1—-3- or rarely 4—6-flowered, the lowest flower always 
perfect and fruit-bearing. Glumes imbricate all round, 1-4 outer empty, 
