Cladvum. | CYPERACEAE, 235 
rigid sheathing bract terminated by a subulate erect point. Spikelets few, 
densely compacted, 4in. long, 1-flowered. Glumes 5-6, ovate-lanceolate, 
acute or acuminate, coriaceous, puberulous, the terminal one subtending 
the flower, the remainder all empty. Hypogynous scales 6, small, white, 
triangular, connate into a 6-lobed cup. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3 
Nut broadly oblong, obtusely trigonous, smooth, red-brown; beak short, 
ovoid-conic, pubescent. —Vauthiera australis A. Rich. Fl. N own. Zel. (1832) 
107, t. 20; A. Cunn. Precur. (1836) n. 276; Raoul Choix (1846) 40. 
Lepidosperma_at australe Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i (1853) 279. L. tetragonum 
Hook. f. Handb. NZ. Fi. Sa pug (not a Labill.). ° & & 
NorvTH AND Soutn ISLANDS, Stawakr ates Not uncommon iivanshiont: eis. 
level to 2000 ft. November-January. 
This differs from Lepidosperma, to which it was referred by Hooker, in always 
wanting the sterile flower below the fruit-bearing one. I have followed Mr. Clarke’s 
suggestion in placing it in Cladium, notwithstanding the presence of hypogynous bristles. 
It is endemic in New Zealand. 
$4 
10. C, aaphilaegunn 7 B. Clarke wu Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 
789.—Rhizome short, creeping. Stems densely tufted, very slender, 
filiform, wiry, terete, finely striate, 9-18in. high. Leaves reduced to a 
single closely appressed purplish-red sheath, usually with a very minute 
orc scale-like lamina at the tip. Panicle terminal, very small, slender, 
4-#in. long, of from 3 to 7 spikelets. Spikelets narrow, obscurely dis- 
peious 44 in. long, 1-flowered. Glumes usually 5, ovate-lanceolate, 
awned, membranous, the 3 outer empty. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3 
Nut oblong-ovoid, 3-ribbed, pale, smooth, crowned by the long and narrow 
pubescent style-base, which is as long as the nut itself-—Chaetospora 
capillacea Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. 11 (1860) 81, t. 1414 (not of Nees). C. capillaris 
F. Muell. Fragm. Phyt. Austral.ix (1875) 34. Elynanthus capillaceus Benth. 
Fl. Austral. vu (1878) 377. Schoenus capillaris F. Muell. Second Census 
Austral. Pl. (1889) 215. 8. tenuis L. Kirk wn Trans. N.Z. —— i, ed. i 
(1871) 94. : | | p. Preett ) 
Norru Istanp: From the North Cape southwards, not habte aS,’ Teo 
IsLanD: Near Westport, W. Townson / Sea-level to 2000 ft. December—Vebruary. 
Also found in Victoria and Tasmania. The narrow elongated persistent style-base 
gives the nut a different appearance to that of any other New Zealand species. 
, ‘ 
10. LEPIDOSPERMA Labill. |'© ©% 
Perennial herbs. Stems stout, leafy at the base, often flat or com- 
pressed. Leaves similar to the stems, sheathing at the base. Infloresence 
a terminal panicle, either long and much branched, or short and spike- 
like. Spikelets numerous, 2-4-flowered, the uppermost flower perfect 
and fruit-bearing, the remainder sterile. Glumes 5-10, subdistichous, 
imbricate ; outer 1-6 empty. Hypogynous bristles 6, short, ovate or 
lanceolate with a setiform tip. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut 
ovoid or oblong, obtusely trigonous ; tip obtuse, indurated, smooth. 
Species 40. One of them is endemic in South China and Malacca, the remaining 
35 are confined to Australia, with the exception of two which are found in New 
Zealand as well. 
Stems flat and thin. Panicle narrow, lax, 4-12in. long .. .. IL. L. laterale. 
Stems slender, terete. Spike simple, 1-3 in. long ts re) ey hn Mitforme, 
