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Gen. IV. iVLEPYEUM, Br.
1, elongatum; antliera peltata. Oraría 4-18, varie
Utricìdi indekisceutes v. lateraliter dehiscentes.
S¡¡iada terminalis. Spatha bivGvis.
comiata; styli totidem, filiformes, liberi v. connati.
A Tasmanian and Soutli Australian genus, containing several species. The only New Zealand one is a very
remarkable little plant, described m the ‘Flora Antarctica’ as a Gaimardia, from imperfect specimens gathered in
Auckland Island. Habit simüar to that of Gaimardia, but this plant is smaller, and of a very pGe green colour
with less coriaeeous, softer, subulate leaves, i inch long, having transparent membranous sheaths. PednncU
termiuG, shorter than the leaves, terminated by two unequal bracts, which enclose one flower that has no further
penanth. Stamen one; filament long, much exserted; anther broad, peltate. Ovaries four, united in pairs, one
above the other, or three together aud one solitary; each with a long slender style. Some Australian species have
many ovaries. (Name from a, privative, and kerrapov, a covering; from the utricles resembling naked seeds.)
1. Mefyiam pallidum. Hook. fil. GGmardia? paUida, Fl. Antaret.p. 86. (Ta b . LXII. (7.)
H a b . Summit of the Euahine mountains, Colenso.
Plate LXII. 0. Fig. 1. leaf; 2, end o f branch, with leaves and two flowers in the bracts; 3, inner bract
and ovaria :—all
N a t . O kd. XCIV. CYPERACEÆ,
Gen. I. CYPEEUS, L.
carinatæ, fere Spicula disticha, multiflora. omnes floriferæ, 3-andræ.
Stylus ovario inarticulatus, deciduus.
t o immense Tropical genus, abundant in AustraUa. The only New Zealand speeies has the culms leafy below
2-3 feet high. Leaves grassy, flat, scaberulous at the margin. Imoluere of many long grassy leaves. Umiels of
6-10 oblong, dense-flowered, deep brown spikes. 1 Gch long, some peduneled. Spikelets numerous, sessüe, i inch
long, suberect. ScaUs 6- 8. distichous, oblong, acute or mucronate, striate, stoning. (Name, the u v n L Jf the
Greeks.)
1. Cyperus ustulatus, A. Eich.; cGmo trigono lævi foliis planis denticGatis breviore, involucri
fohohs elongatis longissimisve foliaceis, umbellæ 6-10 radiate spicis oblongis obtnsis sessilibus peduncGa-
tisque, spiculis congestis suberectis bneari-oblongis acutis, squamis 6-8 oblongis acutis mucronatisve striatis
castaneis nitid is .-A . Bich. Flor. * .1 0 1 . (. 17. A. Cunn. Prodr. C. piceus, B a n h et Sol. MSS.
H a b . Northern and MidGe Islands, abundant. Banks and Solander, B'Urville, A. Ounningham, eto.
Nat. name, " Upoko tangata,” Col. “ Toetoe wbatu manu” (or “ toetoe of which kites are made” ), Lyall.
Gen. II . SCIEPUS, L.
Spseula undique v. Gstiehe imbricata. Squamæ fere omnes floriferæ, 2-3-andræ. Setæ hypogynæ
squamis breviores. Stylus ovario inarticGatus, deciduus v. basi persistente articGatus.
A large geuus, found iu most climates, as are several of its species. Spikelets terminal or lateral, on often
leafless culms, sessile or peduneled, solitary or clustered. SeaUs imbricated on all sides, most or all with bi- or
tn-androus flowers, furnished at the base with two to six scales or bristles. SlyU simple and contmuous with the
ovary, or bulbous at the base and jointed. (Name of Latin origin, but doubtfG meaning.)
1. Scirpus mariiimus, L. ; cubno trigono folioso, spicGis terminabbus subpanicGatis sessibbus pedunculatisque,
involucro foliáceo polyphyllo, squamis aristatis integris bifidisve, nuce 3 - g o n o . -K » . Sp. PI.
Eng. Bot. t. 542. Br. Prodr. . „ „ „ „
Hab. N o r t h e r n and MidGe Islands, abundant, e(c. Nat. name, “ Eiriwaka, Col. (Common
in England.)
Abundant in Australia, and in many other parts of the w orld._l-3 feet high. Boots often tuberous ; eaten
by pigs, and formerly by natives. Leaves flat, as long or longer than the triangular eGm. SpikeUts term nal,
a-4 inch long, ovate, sessile or peduneled, surrounded with long involucrG leaves. Seales glabrous or puberulous,
Lmbranons, ovate, blunt, entire or bifid, awned. Nut three-angled, obovate. compressed, with two to four bnslles
and two or three stigmas. Anthers long, twisted after flowering.
2. Scirpus lacustris, L. ; cGmo tereti aphyUo, spiculis ovatis umbeUatis paGcGatisve versus apicem
cGmi lateralibus, squamis glabris late ovatis oGatis trifidis mucronatis, antberis apice appeuGculatis, nuce
trigona brevi obovata, setis 6 setubs reversis scabris.—A i» . Sp. PI. Bug. Bot. t. 666. A. Rich. r.
Cunn. Prodr. B a n h d Sol. MSS. , -mi
H a b . Common in tbe Northern and MidGe Islands, B a n h and Solander, I fU m lle , etc. Nat.
name, “ Ko pou pou,” I f Urville. (Native of England.)
A veiy common plant in Australia and many other parts ot the world, extensively used in England for mattmg,
chair-bottoms, in coopering casks. ah.-Oalms 2-8 feet high, rounded, sheathed at the base, spon^ mside.
Spitcelels ovate, -X-i inch long, lateral, panicled. sessfle or peduneled. Scaks broaGy ovate, bluntly tnfid. mneronate.
cfliated. Nut short, trigonous. Styles two or three. Bristles six, margined with reversed setæ. Anthers
with an obscurely hairy point.
3. Scirpus triqueter, L.; culmo triquetro basi foboso. fobis acute carinatis, spicubs laterabbus soli-
tariis V . dense glomeratis, squamis glabris aristatis.—Linn. Sp. PI- Er, Prodr. Engl. Bot. t. 1
s. glaucus, B a n h et Sol. MSS. , »
Hab. Northern and Middle Islands, not unfrequent. East Coast, B a n h and Solander, etc. (A native
ot England.)
Found In Australia, and various other parts of the world.-Arat creeping. Culms sharply three-angled, 1-2
feet high. Leaves few, narrow, sharply keeled. Spikelets few or solitary, sessfle m all New Zealand specimens
(sometimes peduneled in those from other conntries). Seales bifid and often cfliated, awned, very similar to, bnt
smaller than in S. marilmus, as are the nut, bristles, stamens, and style. Anthers with a sharp point.
Geu. I I I . ELEOCHAEIS, Br.
Spica (solitaria, axillaris v. terminalis) undique (rarius Gsticbe) imbricata. Squamæ fere omnes
floriferæ, 3-ai,dræ. Setæ hypogynæ 4 v. plures, denticGatæ. Stylus 2-3-fidus, basi dilatatus, oyano articu-
latus. Nux trígona v. IcnticGaris, apice incrassata.—Herbæ apliyllæ v. fohatoe, spica solitaria terminah
V. axillari.
A genus found all over the world, usually merged in Scirpus, bnt I have kept it separate on account of the
different habit of the New Zealand species, which have leafless, cylmdricG or trigonous cGms, with a solitary
terminal spike of flowers not dift’ering from those of Scirpus, except in the distinctly jointed style, which fGls away,
and leaves a bulbous top on the nut. (Name from eXos, a marsh, and x“ P<o. delight tn.)
I . Eleodraris sphacelata, Br. ; culmo crasso articulato inani, spica cybndracea, squamis plurimis
liueari-oblongis obtusis margine sphacelatis.—Br. Prodr. A. Cunn. Prodr.
H a b . Northern Island, in various marshy places, Cimningham, etc. Bluff Island, LyaU.
Culms as thick as the finger, striated, hollow, with many close partitions. Spikes 1-2 mches long. Scales
3 X