CYPERUS FUSCUS. BROWN CYPERUS.
CYPERUSfuscus-, umbella composita triphylla, spiculis lineari-lanceolatis, stigmatibus tribus.
CYPERUS fuscus. Linn. Sp. PI. p. 869. Oed. Fl. Dan. t. 179. Willd. Sp. P I. v o l 1. p. 280.
Decand. Fl. F r. ed. 3. vol. 3 .p . 145. Fl. Gall. S yn.p. 147. Hoffm. Germ. ed. 2. v o l .1.
P . l . p. 21. Host Gram. Austr. vol. 3. t. 73. Schlcuhr Bot. Hand. t. 7. Schrader
Fl. Germ vol. ]. p. 118. . Gaudin Agrostr. Helvet, vol. 2. p. 50. Sibth. Fl. Graca,
vo l 1 .1. 48. Pers. Syn. PI. vol. l .p . 62. Alton Hort. K m . ed. 2. vol. 1. p. 128.
CYPERUS umbella trifolia, spicis petiolatis congestis, glumis ovato-lanceolatis. Hall. Helv. n. 1349.
Class and Order. T R IA N D R IA MONOGYNIA.
[N atural Order. CYPERACEÆ, J uss. Decand. Brorni.]
GEN. Char. Glumoe univalves, unifloræ, distiche in spiculas compressas imbricate. N u x nuda.
Gen. Char. Glumes one-valved, one-flowered, imbricated in a distichous manner in compressed sprikelets.
N u t naked.
Radix annua, fibrosa.
Culmi digitales et ultra, casspitosi, erecti, crassi, glabri,
striati, exacte triquetri, subflaccidi, superne nu-
dij inferne foliorum vaginis vestiti.
Folia culmo breviora, vix biuncialia, mollia, lineari-
acuminata, canaliculata, ad apicem marginibus
sub leute scabriusculis. Vaginae longae, glabrae,
striate, inferiores magis membranaceas, infimae
■ ' sq.uamifonnes, aphyll®.
Involucrum triphyllum, foliis radicalibus consimilibus,
valde inaequalibus, patentibus.
Umbella terminalis, composita: Umbellul® plerum-
que pedunculate, nunc sessiles. Pedunculi cras-
" ' si, triquetri, basi squamulis vel bracteis membra-
naceis albidis suffulti.
Spiculze subsessiles, basi bracteate, lineari-lanceolatae,
obtusae, decern- ad quatuordecim-florae.
Glumze distiche imbricate, ovate, obtusae, concavo-
carinate, flavo-fuscescentes, prope marginem intense
fusco-purpureae, dorso nervo viridi, ad apicem
sub lente scabriusculo.
Stamina: Filamenta duo. An therm oblongae, flavas.
Germen minutum, obtuse triquetrum, acuminatum.
Stylus erectus, longiusculus. Stigma trifidum.
Semen ovato-rotundatum, flavo-fuscum, acute triquetrum,
subacuminatum.
Fig. 1. Portion of an umbel. Fig. 2. Spikelet. Fig. 3. Glume. Fig. 4. Germen and anther. Fig. 5. Seed.
A ll magnified.
For this valuable addition to the Flora of the British Isles, the botanical world is indebted to that zealous and
able naturalist A. H. Haworth, Esq., who found it in a low marshy meadow scarcely half a mile from his late
residence in Little Chelsea. I t grows in some abundance on the sides of a ditch, along with Jtincus Bufonius,
Bidens cernua, Ranunculus sceleratus, Polygonum minus, and other such semi-aquatics. The individual plants here
figured and described from, were gathered by the Rev. Mr. Bree in company with Mr. Haworth, and were sent
to me on the 27th of September. Many of the specimens were in flower, but more in seed.
The station for this plant is precisely similar to those spots on which I have seen i t in the north of Italy; where,
as well as in France, Switzerland, and Germany, it is far from being of uncommon occurrence.
Cyperus longus, the only other known British species of the genus, is very widely removed from th is; but there
is a species frequently found growing with it on the continent, which it greatly resembles in general appearance,
and which may probably at some future period be detected in this country. This is the Cyperus flavescens, in
which, however, the spikelets of the umbel are wholly of a yellowish colour, shorter and broader in their figure,'and
having only two stigmas to the flower.
89
Root annual, fibrose.
Culms a finger’s length and more in height, casspitose,
erect, thick, smooth, striated, exactly triquetrous,
somewhat flaccid, above naked, below clothed
with the sheaths of the leaves.
Leaves shorter than the culm, scarcely two inches in
height, soft, linear-acuminate, channelled, with
margins at the extremity under a microscope
a little rough. Sheaths long, smooth, striated,
the lower ones more membranaceous, the lowest
squamiferous and destitute of leaves.
Involucrum of three leaves, resembling those of the
root, very unequal, patent.
Umbel terminal, compound: Umbellules generally on
foot-stalks, sometimes sessile. Peduncles thick,
triquetrous, supported a t the base by membranaceous
white squamules or bracteas.
Spikelets subsessile, having bracteas at the base, linear
lanceolate, obtuse, with from ten to fourteen
flowers.
Glumes distichous imbricated, ovate, obtuse, concavo-
carinate, yellowish brown, near the margin intensely
brownish purple, with the nerve on the
back green, under a microscope roughish towards
the apex.
Stamens: Filaments two. Anthers oblong, yellow.
Germen minute, obtusely triquetrous, acuminate. Style
erect, rather long. Stigma trifid.
Seed between ovate and roundish, yellow brown, acutely
triquetrous, subacuminate.