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Gen. IT. ALEPYEÜM, B r .
terminalis. bivalvis. 1, elongatum ; anthera p eltata. O sa n a 4 - 1 8 , varie
comiata; s ty h totidem, filiformes, liberi v. eonnati. Utriculi indéhiscentes v. la teralite r dehiscentes.
A Tasmaman and South Australian genus, contniniiig several species. The only New Zealand one is a very
remarkable little plant, described in the ‘ Flora Antarctica’ as a Gcmariia, from imperfect specimens gathered in
Auckland Island, Habit similar to that of Gaimardia, but this plant is smaller, and of a very pale green colour,
with less conaceous, softer, subulate leaves, u inch long, having transparent membranous sheaths. Peduncle
terminal, shorter than the leaves, terminated by two unequal bracts, which enclose one flower that has no further
penanth. Stamen one; filament long, mnch exserted; anther broad, peltate. Ovaries four, united in pairs, one
above the other, or three together and one solitary ; each with a long slender style. Some Australian species have
many ovaries. (Name from a, privative, and Xtrrvpov, a covering; from the utricles resembling naked seeds.)
1. A l e p y r u m H o o k . fil. Gaimardia? pallida, ilf. 8 6 . ( T a b . L X I I . (7.)
H a b . Summit of tb e Ruabine mountains, Colenso.
P la te LXII. 0. Fig. 1. leaf; 2. end o f branch, with leaves and two flowers in the bracts; 3. inner bract
Setæ hypogynæ 3.
and ovaria :— all magnified.
N a t . O r d . XCIV. CYPERACEÆ, J m s .
Gen. I . CY PERUS , I .
Spicula disticha, multiflora. Squamæ carinatæ, fere omnes floriferæ, 3-andræ.
S ty lu s ovario ina rticulatus, deciduus.
An immense Tropical genns. abundant in Austraba. The only New Zealand species has the culms leafy below
2-3 feet high. Leaves grassy, flat, scaberulous at the margin. Involucre of many long grassy leaves. Umbels of
6 -10 oblong, dense-flowered, deep brown spikes, 1 inch long, some peduncled. Spikelets numerous. sessUe. i inch
long, subereet. Scales 6 -8, distichous, oblong, acute or mucrouate, striate, shining. (Name, the «vTreipos of the
Greeks.) ^
1. Cyperus ustulatus, A. R ic h .; culmo trigono lævi fobis planis denticulatis breviore, involucri
fobohs elongatis longissimisve foHaceis, umbellæ 6 -1 0 radiatæ spicis oblongis obtusis sessilibus peduncula-
tisque, spiculis congestis suberectis bneari-oblongis acutis, squamis 6 - 8 oblongis acutis mucronatisve striatis
castaneis n iti_ d is .-ft. Rich. Mor. p . 101. t. 17. A . Cunn. Prodr. C. pieeus. Ba n k s e t Sol. M S S .
H a b . N o rth e rn and Middle Islands, abundant. B a n k s a n d Solander, B 'U rv ille , A . Cunningham, etc.
i at. name, “ Upoko tangata,” Col. “ Toetoe wbatu manu” (or “ toetoe of wbicb kites are made” ), L ya ll.
Gen. I I . SC IE PU S , L .
undique v. disticbe imbricata. Squamæ fere omnes floriferæ, 2 -3 -an d ræ . Setæ hypogynæ
squamis breviores. S ty lu s ovario ina rticulatus, deciduus v. basi persistente articulatus.
A large genus, found iu most climates, as are several of its speeies. SpikeUs terminal or lateral, on often
leafless culms, sessUe or peduncled, solitaiy or clustered. Scales imbricated on all sides, most or all with bi- or
tn-androus flowers, furnished at the base with two to six scales or bristles. Style simple and contmuous with the
ovary, or bulbous at the base and jointed. (Name of Latin origin, but doubtful meaning.)
1. Scirpus maritimus, L . ; cubno trigono folioso. spicubs terminalibus subpaniculatis sessibbus peduuculatisque,
involucro foliáceo polypbyllo, squamis aristatis in teg ris bifidisve, nuce 3 - g o n o . - * « » . Sp- L l-
Eng. B o t. t. 5 42. B r . Prodr. __
H a b . N o r t h e r n an d Middle Islan d s, ab u n d an t, Cc fm o , cfc. N a t. name, “ Ririwaka, Col. (Common
in England.)
Abundant in Australia, and in many other parts of the world. 1 -3 feet high. Roots often ’ ““fo
by pi«5 and formerly by natives. Leaves flat, as long or longer than the triangular culm. SpikeUts terminal,
A-A inch long, ovate, sessile or peduncled, surrounded with long involucral leaves. Scutes glabrous or puberulous,
m e /r a iio u s , ovate, blunt, entire or bifid, awned. Nu t three-angled, obovate, compressed, with two to four bnstles
and two or three stigmas. Anthers long, twisted after flowering.
2. Scirpus laouskris, L . ; culmo te re ti aphyllo, spicubs ovatis umbeUatis paniculatisve versus apicem
culmi lateralibus, squamis glabris la te ovatis cibatis trifidis mucronatis, an tb en s apice appendiculatis, nuce
trig o n a brevi obovata, setis 6 setubs reversis scabris.— * « « . Sp. P l. Png. B o t. t. 6 6 6 . A . R u h . r.
Cunn. Fro d i; H. m t& u s . Ba n k s et Sol. M S S . , a t i
H a b . Common in tb e N o rth e rn an d Middle Islan d s, B a n k s a n d Solander, F fU rm lle , etc. N a t.
name, “ Ko pou pou,” I f Urville. (Native of En g lan d .)
A veiT common plant in Australia and many other parts of the world, extensively used in England for mattmg,
chair-bottoms. in coopering casks, A c .-C u lm x 2 -8 feet high, rounded, sheathed at the base, s p o n ^ mslde.
SpikeMs ovate, i - i inch long, lateral, panicled, sessile or peduncled. Seales broadly ovate, bluntly tnfid, mucronate,
ciliated. Nu t short, trigonous. Styles two or tliree. Bristles six, margined with reversed setæ. AMlurrs
with an obscurely hairy point.
3. Scirpus triqiieter, L .; culmo triq u e tro b asi foboso, fobis acute carinatis, spicubs la terab b u s sob-
ta riis V . dense glomeratis, squamis glabris aristatis.— L in n . Fl- F t . Prodr. E n g l. Bo t. t. 16 9 4 .
s . glaucus. Ba n k s et Sol. M S S . „ , , , / » .•
H a b . N o rtlie rn and Middle Islan d s, n o t unfrequent. E a s t Coast, Ba n k s and Solander, etc. (A native
of England.)
Fonnd in Australia, and various other parts of the w o rld .-J ìo a t creeping. Culms sharply three-angled, 1-2
feet hi«h. Leaves few. narrow, sharply keeled. Spikelets few or solitaiy. sessile in all New Zealand specimens
(sometimes peduncled in those from other countries). Scales bifid and often cibated, awned, very similar to, bnt
smaller than in S. maritimus, as are the nut, bristles, stamens, and style. Anthers with a sharp pomt.
Gen. I I I . E L E O C H A E IS , B r .
Spica (solitaria, axillaris v. terminalis) und iq u e (rarius distiche) imbricata. ^ Squamæ fere omnes
floriferæ, 3-aiidræ. Setæ hypogynæ 4 v. plures, denticulatæ. S ty lu s 2-3 -fid u s, basi dilatatus, ovario articu latus.
N u x trig o n a v. leuticulai-is, apice incrassata.— Herbæ aphylloe v. fo lia tæ , spica so h ta n a terminali
V. a x illa ii.
A genus found all over the world, usuaUy merged in Scirpus, but I have kept it separate on account of the
different habit of the New Zealand species, which have leafless, cylindrical or trigonous culms, with a soUtary
terminal spike of flowers not differiug from those of Scirpus, except in the distinctly jointed style, which falls away,
and leaves a bulbous top on the nut. (Nome from ckos, a marsh, and xmp", to delight in.)
1. Eleocliaris sphacelata, E r . ; culmo crasso articulato inani, spica cyHndracea, squamis plurimis
Uneari-oblongis obtusis margine sphacelatis.— B r . Prodr. A . Cunn. Prodr.
H a b . No rtliern Islan d , in various mai'sliy places, Cunningham, etc. Bluff Islan d , L y a ll.
Culms as tliick as the finger, striated, hoUow, with many close partitions. Spikes 1 -2 inches long. Scales
3 X