Carex.] , : - CYPERACEAE. | 267 
the centre of the emargination, pale-brown streaked with chestnut, median 
portion more or less conspicuously 3-nerved. Utricles equalling the glumes 
or shorter than them, broadly ovate, plano-convex or nearly so, 7-11-nerved 
"on the convex face, polished and shining, purplish at the apex, paler below, 
or wholly pale-brown; margins more or less distinctly serrate above, 
rarely even; beak short, with 2 widely divergent teeth. Styles 2. Nut 
obovoid-oblong, lenticular.—Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 314 (an part) ; 
Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi (1884) 444; Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 822 ; 
Kukenth. in Pflanzenr. Heft 38 (1909) 687. 
Nort anp Sourn Isuanps, Stewart Isnanp: Abundant throughout. Sea- 
level to 3500 ft. October—January. 
The best marks of this variable plant are the comparatively lax habit, very slender 
culms which often elongate in fruit and become prostrate, usually aggregated spikelets, 
and plano-convex utricles with nerved faces and serrate margins. 
27. C. Wakatipu Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv (1882) 363—Laxly 
tufted, often spreading at the base. Culms short, rather stout, trigonous, 
smooth, very variable in size, usually 4-8in. high, but sometimes elongated 
to 12 or 14in., and alpine specimens are often dwarfed to 1-2in. Leaves 
always much longer than the culms, frequently twice the length, broad, 
flat, grooved, }++4in. diam.; margins slightly scabrid. Spikelets 3-6, 
closely packed, pale- or dark-brown ; terminal one (rarely two) male, slender ; 
remainder all female, sometimes with a few male flowers below or rarely 
above, sessile or the lowest shortly pedunculate, 4-lin. long; bracts very 
long and leafy, far overtopping the spikelets. Glumes broadly ovate, 
thin and membranous, bifid, pale-chestnut, sometimes dark-brown ; midrib 
stout, ending in a short awn. Utricle broadly elliptic-ovoid, unequally 
biconvex, strongly 7-ll-nerved, pale-brown to dark-brown; margins 
usually smooth; beak short, 2-toothed. Styles 2. Nut broadly oblong, 
lenticular—Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi (1884) 484; Man. N.Z. Fl. 
(1906) 823; Kukenth. in Pflanzenr. Heft 38 (1909) 687. 
SoutH Istanp: Not uncommon in alpine and subalpine localities throughout, 
2500-5500 ft. December- February. 
Distinguished from C. testacea by the smaller size and more robust habit, broader 
leaves always much exceeding the culms, closely aggregated spikelets, and more turgid 
strongly nerved utricles. 
28. ©. devia Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xv (1883) 301.— Culms 
laxly tufted, smooth or nearly so, leafy at the base, 6-18in. high. Leaves 
shorter than the culms, spreading, rigid and coriaceous, flat or involute, 
strongly grooved, ;,-+in. diam.; margins scabrid. Spikelets 2-4, 
approximate or the lowest alone remote, dark-brown ; terminal one the 
largest, male, rarely with a few female flowers at the base, rather stout, 
sometimes almost clavate, 3-Il4in. long; remainder all female, erect, 
oblong, 4-1in. long, sessile or the lowest very shortly pedunculate ; lowest 
bract long and leafy, the rest small. Glumes dark-brown with a pale 
centre, ovate, acute, emarginate or shortly bifid, the midrib produced into 
a hispid awn of varying length. Utricle equalling the glumes or rather 
longer than them, elliptic-ovoid, unequally biconvex or almost plano- 
convex, strongly nerved on both faces, purplish-black; margins entire ; 
beak short, bifid. Styles 2. Nut broadly obovoid-oblong, compressed.— 
Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi (1884) 483; Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 823; Kukenth. in 
Pflanzenr. Heft 38 (1909) 686. 
