236 CYPERACEAE. [ Leprdosperma. 
1. L. laterale R. Br. Prodr. (1810) 234.—-Stems densely tufted, flat 
or very slightly convex, with sharp almost cutting edges, smooth, firm, 
2-4 ft. high, }-tin. broad. Leaves 3-5, similar to the stems but shorter, — 
equitant at the base. Panicle long and narrow, 4-121n, long; branches 
not very closely placed, elongated, erect, simple or again branched, 
lowest bract with an erect lamina 14-4in. long, upper bracts short. 
Spikelets sessile, red-brown, tin. long, usually with 1 pertect flower and 1 
sterile one below it. Glumes ovate, acuminate or almost awned, keeled, 
minutely puberulous on the back, the 3 outer empty. Hypogynous bristles 
6, connate at the base, small, short, tipped with delicate fragile setae 
which are sometimes 4 as long as the nut. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. 
Nut ovoid-oblong, obtusely trigonous, smooth when fully mature, tip 
tumid.—Benth. Fl. Austral. vii (1878) 393; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 
(1906) 790. L. concavum Hook. f. Fl. Lasm. u (1860) 91, t. 146B; 
Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 307 (not of R. Br.). WL. longitudinalis Hook. f. FI. 
Nov. Zel. i (18583) 279 (not of Labill.). 
Nortu Istanp: Auckland—Clay hills from the North Cape to the Upper Waikato, 
not uncommon. Sea-level to 1500 ft. January—February. v 
Also in eastern Australia and Tasmania. 
92. L. filiforme Labill. Pl. Nov. Holl. i (1806) 17, t. 15.— Rhizome 
short, stout, woody, creeping. Stems numerous, densely tufted, slender 
but rigid, erect, terete, rush-like, 1-3 ft. high. Leaves reduced to a rather 
long and closely appressed sheath, terminating in a short and almost 
filiform erect lamina. Spike simple, terminal, 1-3 in. long; rhachis slender, 
straight or scarcely flexnose ; sheathing bracts narrow. Spikelets 1 to 
each bract, narrow-linear, terete or nearly so, 4in. long, 2-flowered, the 
upper flower perfect, the lower sterile. Glumes 4-5, narrow-lanceolate, 
acute, the 2 or 3 outer ones shorter and broader, empty. Stamens 3. Nut 
oblong, obtuse or minutely apiculate, obtusely trigonous with a thickened 
line down the angles. Hypogynous scales at the base of the nut minute, 
whitish, subulate-lanceolate, acute, closely appressed —Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. i 
(1860) 93 (in part); F. Muell. Fragm. Phyt. Austral. ix (1875) 27; Benth. 
Fl. Austral. vii (1878) 399; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 790. 
Norru Istanp: Auckland—Clay hills between Mangonui and Kaitaia, and near 
Rangaunu Harbour, H. Carse !/ August-September. 
I am indebted to Mr. C. B. Clarke for identifying this with the Australian 
L. filiforme. So far, it has only been gathered in New Zealand by Mr. Carse, “but it 
will probably prove to be not uncommon north of Auckland. In Australia it has been 
recorded from Victoria and Tasmania. 
11. GAHNIA Forst. 1} 77& 
Tufted perennial herbs, usually of large size. Stems tall and stout, 
leafy throughout their length. Leaves usually long, very coarse and 
harsh, narrowed into long subulate or filiform points; margins involute, 
scabrid. Panicle large, terminal; sometimes broad and effuse, with 
drooping branches; sometimes narrower and more erect. Spikelets 
clustered, black or dark-brown, 1-2-flowered; the upper flower herma- 
phrodite and fruit-bearing; the lower flower sterile or male. Glumes 
many, imbricated all round; the outer 2-5 or more empty, keeled, often 
mucronate; flowering glumes minute at first, but enlarging in fruit. 
Hypogynous bristles wanting. Stamens usually 4 in the hermaphrodite 
