Cyperaceae: Hypolytreae [Draft]

Tribe 4. HYPOLYTREAE Nees, Linnaea 9: 287. 1834. [Draft]

割鸡芒族 ge ji mang zu

Herbs, perennial or rarely annual, with or without a rhizome. Culms scattered or tufted. Spikes 1 or 2 to many in an anthela, panicle, corymb, or capitulun, with many bractlets and spikelets; bractlets spirally imbricate, each with a spikelet. Spikelets usually with several unisexual flowers, rarely with l bisexual flower; scales 2 to many, alternate, opposite, or verticillate, distinct or connate, with or without a flower; female flower terminal, male flower under female flower. Hypogynous bristles absent. Stigmas 2 or 3. Achenes biconvex or trigonous.

Five genera and 10 species (two endemic) in China.

1a. Spikelets with 2 scales and 1 bisexual flower .............................................................................................. 29. Lipocarpha

1b. Spikelets with 2 to many scales and 3 to 10 or more unisexual flowers.

2a. Spike single, pseudolateral; bract culm-shaped ............................................................................................ 33. Lepironia

2b. Spikes in a corymbose panicle or capitulum, rarely only with a globose spike, terminal.

3a. Female flower without scales at base; stigmas 2 ........................................................................................ 32. Hypolytrum

3b. Female flower with scales at base; stigmas 3.

4a. Spikes in a corymbose panicle ........................................................................................................... 30. Thoracostachyum

4b. Spikes congregated into a capitulum or only a single terminal spike .......................................................... 31. Mapania

29. LIPOCARPHA R. Brown in Tuckey, Narr. Exped. Zaire 459. 1818, nom. cons.

湖瓜草属hu gua cao shu

Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯)

Herbs, annual or perennial. Leaves basal; leaf blade flat. Bracts leaf-shaped. Spikes 2--7, fascicled into capitulum, rarely single, with many bractlets and spikelets; bractlets spirally arranged, each with a spikelet. Spikelet with two scales and a bisexual flower; rachilla very short, articulated at base, deciduous at article when mature; scales alternate, dorsi-vertral side towards rachilla, membranous, several-veined; basal scale without a flower; apical scale with a bisexual flower. Stamens 2; stigmas 2. Achenes trigonous, biconvex or plano-convex, included by scale.

About 15 species: warm temperate and subtropical regions; 3 species (none endemic) in China.

1a. Leaf blade 2--4 mm wide; spikes (3 or)4--7-fascicled at culm apex; bractlet apices subtruncate and with a strict and slightly broad mucro ....................................................................................................................................... 1. L. chinensis

1b. Leaf blade 1--2 mm wide; spikes 2- or 3(or 4)-fascicled at culm apex; bractlet apices abruptly contracted and formed into a recurved caudate-acuminate mucro.

2a. Bractlets greenish with reddish brown striae; spikes 2--5 mm; achenes straw-colored, narrowly oblong ........... 2. L. microcephala

2b. Bractlets blackish purple but mucro green; spikes 4--7 mm; achenes blackish purple, lanceolate-ovoid, 3. L. tenera

1. Lipocarpha chinensis (Osbeck) Kern, Blumea, Suppl. 4: 167. 1958.

华湖瓜草 hua hu gua cao

Scirpus chinensis Osbeck. Dagb. Ostind. Resa 220. 1757; S. senegalensis Lamarck; Lipocarpha senegalensis (Lamarck) T. Durand & H. Durand.

Perennials. Culms tufted, 10--60 cm tall, 1--1.5 mm thick, flat or compressed triquetrous, longitudinally sulcate, very laxly puberulous. Leaves basal; sheaths tube-shaped, 1.8--2.5 cm, glabrous, basally without blades, apically with blades; leaf blade linear, 1/2 as long as culm, 2--2.5 mm wide, papery, margin revolute, apex acuminate. Bracts 2 or 3, leaf-shaped, 2--7 cm, not sheathing. Spikes (3 or)4--7-fascicled, ovoid to broadly ovoid, 5--10 X ca. 5.5 mm, with numerous bractlets and spikelets; bractlets pale and purple striate, oblanceolate, ca. 2 mm, nearly membranous, keeled, apex subtruncate and with a strict slightly broad mucro. Spikelets with 2 scales and 1 bisexual flower; basal scale elliptic, ca. 1.5 mm, membranous, 5-veined, margin involute, apex obtuse; apical scale ovate-lanceolate, ca. 1.5 mm, with a bisexual flower, apex acute. Stamens 2; anthers narrowly oblong. Style medium length; stigmas 3, nearly as long as style, puberulous. Achenes brown when mature, oblong-obovoid, ca. 1 mm, biconvex, with punctate processes on surface, apex rotund and shortly mucronate. F1 and fr. May--Oct.

Wet places at roadsides, ditch margins, river margins, water margins in valley, mountain slopes, field margins; 100--2100 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shandong, Taiwan, SE Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang, [Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Africa, N Australia, Madagascar, Indian Ocean Islands].

2. Lipocarpha microcephala (R. Brown) Kunth, Enum. P1. 2:268, 1837.

湖瓜草 hu gua cao

Hypaelyptum microcephala R. Brown, Prod. F1. Nov. Holland. 220.1810; Scirpus squarrosus Linnaeus. WHY DOES NOT THE SPECIFIC EPITHET SQUARROSUS HAVE PRIORITY.

Annuals, without a rhizome. Culms 5--30 cm tall, ca. 0.7 mm thick, flat, longitudinally sulcate, puberulous. Leaves basal; sheaths tube-shaped, 1.5--2.5 cm, membranous, glabrous, basal ones without a blade, apical ones with a blade; leaf blades linear, 1/4--1/2 as long as culm, 0.7--1.5 mm wide, papery, both surfaces glabrous, midvein obsolete, margin involute. Bracts 2 or 3, leaf-shaped, slightly broad at base, not sheathing. Spikes 2- or 3(or 4)-fascicled, ovoid, 3--5 X ca. 3 mm, with numerous bractlets and spikelets; bractlets oblanceolate to spatulate, ca. 2 mm, membranous, apex abruptly contracted and formed into recurved caudate-acuminate mucro. Spikelets with 2 scales and 1 bisexual flower; basal scale white, elliptic, ca. 1 mm, hyaline, 5-veined, apex obtuse; apical scale oblong, ca. 1 mm, membranous, several-veined, with a bisexual flower, apex acute. Stamens 2; anthers linear-oblong, 1/3 as long as filament. Style slender, exerted from scale; stigmas 3, pubescent. Achenes straw-colored, narrowly oblong, ca. 1 mm, trigonous, slightly curved, nitid, densely puncticulate, apex mucronate. Fl and fr. Jun--Oct.

Water margins, wet places, swamps, 400--2100 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Shandong, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, New Guinea, Philippines, Vietnam; Australia].

3. Lipocarpha tenera Boeckeler, Beitr. Cyper. 1: 21. 1888.

细稈湖瓜草xi gan hu gua cao

Lipocarpha atropurpurea Boeckeler.

Annuals, without a rhizome. Culms tufted, 10--18 cm tall, ca. 1 mm thick, compressed, longitudinally sulcate, glabrous. Leaves basal, ca. 1/3 as long as culm; sheaths tube-shaped, 1--1.5 cm; leaf blade ca. 1 mm wide, obsoletely midveined, glabrous, margin involute. Bracts 2 or 3, leaf-shaped, slender, not sheathing. Spikes 2- or 3-fascicled at culm apex, rarely single, ovoid, 4--7 X ca. 2.6 mm, with many bractlets and spikelets; bractlets blackish purple, oblanceolate, glabrous, keeled, apex green, caudate-acuminate, and slightly recurved. Spikelets with 2 scales and a bisexual flower; scales oblong, ca. 1 mm, membranous, with several slightly thick veins, margin hyaline, apex acute to obtuse. Stamens 2; anthers oblong, as long as filament. Style short, as long as stigma; stigmas 3. Achenes blackish purple when mature, lanceolate-ovoid, ca. 1 mm, plano-convex to nearly trigonous, surface densely blackish puncticulate, apex rounded and mucronate. Fl. and fr. Oct--Dec.

Wet places at water margins; 1800--1900 m. Yunnan [Vietnam].

30. THORACOSTACHYUM Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 38: 75. 1869.

野长蒲属 ye chang pu shu

Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯)

Herbs, perennial, with a rhizome. Culms stout, erect, trigonous. Leaves basal and cauline, stipitate or sessile but sheathing, 3-veined, margin scabrous or serrulate, apex trigonous and flagelliform-acuminate. Bracts leaf-shaped, much longer than inflorescence. Spikes in a terminal panicle, ellipsoid, with many scalelike bractlets and spikelets; bractlets spirally and imbricately arranged; basal 2 bractlets without a spikelet but remainder ones each with a spikelet. Spikelets with 6 scales, 3 male flowers, and 1 female flower; basalmost 2 scales lateral and opposite, cymbiform, each with 1 male flower; remainder four scales linear-oblong, hyaline, outer one with a male flower and a female flower within centrum of inside three scales. Male flowers: stamen 1. Female flowers: stigmas 3. Achenes short cylindrical, trigonous, apex rostrate.

Seven species: SE Asia, Indian Ocean Islands, Pacific Islands; one species (not endemic) in China.

1. Thoracostachyum pandanophyllum (F. Mueller) Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 85: 484. 1915. SEEMS TO BE TREATED AS T. sumatranum in Fl. Malesiana.

露兜树叶野长蒲lu dou shu ye ye chang pu

Hypolytrum pandanophyllum F. Mueller, Fragm. 9: 16. 1875.

Perennials, with a rhizome. Culms ca. 1 m tall or more, stout, straight, trigonous, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, glabrous; basal leaves stipitate and cauline leaves sheathing; blades ca. 2 m X 2.5--3 cm or longer, margin scabrous or serrulate, apex flagelliform-acuminate and trigonous, 3-veined, midvein abaxially elevated, lateral 2 veins adaxially elevated formed an “M shape” in transverse section. Bracts 4 or 5, leaf-shaped; basalmost bract to 70 cm or more, much longer than inflorescence, 1--2 cm wide, not sheathing. Panicle corymbose, ca. 5 X 8 cm or longer; racemes several at apex of branches, with many spikes. Spikes 1 or 3--5-fascicled, ellipsoid, 5--6 mm, sessile, with many scalelike bractlets and spikelets; bractlets densely spirally and imbricately arranged, elliptic to broadly elliptic, ca. 2.5 mm, glabrous, slightly nitid, veins obsolete, apex rounded; basalmost 2 bractlets without spikelets, remainder ones each with a spikelet. Spikelets with 6 scales, 3 male flowers, and 1 female flower; scales membranous, hyaline; basalmost two scales lateral and opposite, cymbiform, keeled, hirtose on keel, each with 1 male flower; remainder 4 scales linear-oblong, hyaline, outside one with a male flower and a female flower within centrum of cyclic 3 inside scales. Male flowers: filaments short, ca. 1/4 as long as anther; anthers linear to linear-oblong. Female flowers: stigmas 3, longer than style, laxly pubescent. Achenes not mature. Fl. Mar--Apr.

Wet places is sparse forests or scrub; ca. 1100 m. S Yunnan [Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea; NE Australia].

31. MAPANIA Aublet, Hist. Pl. Guiane 1: 47. 1775.

擂鼓苈属lei gu li shu

Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯)

Herbs, perennial. Rhizome ± thick, woody. Culms lateral, trigonous. Leaves basal, tufted, ± long and slightly wide, subleathery, 3-veined. Bracts leaf-shaped or scalelike, leathery or subleathery. Spikes few to several, fascicled into a capitulum at apex of culm, rarely single, with many bractlets and spikelets; bractlets densely spirally and imbricately arranged, each with a spikelet. Spikelets with 5 or 6 scales, 3 male flowers, and 1 female flower; basalmost 2 scales lateral and opposite, cymbiform, keeled, hirsute on keel, each with a male flower; outer scale slightly concave, without keel, thin, with or without a male flower or without flower, a female flower with in centrum of cyclic three scales inside; three scales narrowly oblong, membranous, hyaline. Male flowers with a stamen. Female flowers with a pistil; style slender, persistent; stigmas 3, slender. Achenes osseous, smooth, rostrate or not rostrate.

About 45 species: pantropical; two species (one endemic) in China.

1a. Spikes 4, fascicled, broadly ovoid, 1.8--2.5 X 1.5--1.8 cm ............................................................................. 1. M. sinensis

1b. Spike single, ellipsoid to subobovoid, ca. 3 X 1.6--2 cm ............................................................................ 2. M. wallichii

1. Mapania sinensis Uittien, Recuil Trav. Bot. Neerl. 33: 288. 1936.

华擂鼓苈 hua lei gu li

Perennial herb, with ± thick and woody rhizome. Culm lateral, 25--54 cm tall, ca. 3 mm thick, with several scales and sheaths at base, scales with at lower part and sheathes with at upper part. Leaves basal, distichous, ligulate, apex caudate-acuminate, 1.3 m X 2.5--3.5 cm or longer, subleathery, smooth, 3-veined, serrulate on upper margin and dorsal midvein; leaf sheaths not closed, conduplicate, superimposed each other, thickly membranous on margin. Bracts scalelike, shorter than inflorescence, ovate, apex acute, 1.5--2.5 cm, leathery, brown in dry. Spikes 4, fascicled at apex of culm, broadly ovoid, 1.8--2.5 X 1.5--1.8 cm, with many bractlets and spikelets; bractlets spirally and imbricately arranged, narrowly oblong, apex obtuse, ca. 1 cm, papery, straw-colored. Spikelets with 6 scales, 3 male flowers, and 1 female flower; basalmost 2 scales yellow, lateral and opposite, cymbiform, membranous, keeled, spinulate on apical part of keel, each with a male flower; outside scale with a male flower, same shape as 3 inside scales; 3 inside three scales cyclic, narrowly oblong, shorter than lateral 2 scales, with a female flower within centrum. Style slender, persistent, base flexuose; stigmas 3, slender. Achenes dark brown, obovoid, 4--4.5 mm, obtusely trigonous, apex conically rostrate. Fl. and fr. Oct.

* Forests. 600--700 m. Guangdong, Guangxi.

2. Mapania wallichii C. B. Clarke in J. D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. India 6: 682. 1894.

单穗擂鼓荔 dan sui lei gu li

Mapania dolichopoda T. Tang & F. T. Wang.

Perennials. Rhizome long, 1.6--3.5 cm thick, with ± thick fibrous roots and reddish brown scales. Culms lateral, 20--70 cm tall, 2--4 mm thick, with ten and more scales and sheaths at base, most basally only with scales. Leaves basal, nearly distichous, ligulate; leaf sheaths not closed, conduplicate, superimposed each other; leaf blade ca. 1.2 m X 2--3.5 cm or longer, subleathery, margin and abaxial midvein serrulate, apically gradually narrowed into an acutely triquetrous and flagelliform apex. Bracts yellowish green, scalelike, ovate-lanceolate, 1.5--2.5 cm, slightly shorter or nearly as long as inflorescence, leathery, midvein abaxially elevated, margin brown and thickly membranous, apex obtuse. Spike single, terminal, ellipsoid to subobovoid, 3--3.5 X 1.5--2 cm, with many bractlets and spikelets; bractlets yellow, spirally and imbricately arranged, ovate-oblong, 1.2--1.5 cm, papery, midveined abaxially elevated, each with a spikelet, apex rounded. Spikelets with 6 scales, 3 male flowers, and 1 female flower; basalmost 2 scales yellow, lateral and opposite, cymbiform, membranous, keeled, spinulate on keel, each with a male flower (1 stamen only); abaxial scale with a male flower, same shape as 3 inner scales; 3 inner scales cyclic, narrowly oblong, equaling to lateral 2 scales in length, with a female flower within centrum. Style slender, base flexuose; stigmas 3. Achenes brown, subobovoid to ellipsoid, ca. 7.5 mm, obtusely trigonous, shortly stipitate, apex conically rostrate, rostrum ca. 2 mm. Fl. and fr. Oct--Nov.

River margins, dense forests, ditch margins in valleys, ca. 500 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan [Indonesia, Malaysia].

32. HYPOLYTRUM Richard in Persoon, Synops. Pl. 1: 70. 1805.

割鸡芒属ge ji mang shu

Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯)

Herbs, perennial, with a rhizome or stolons. Culms lateral or central, with scales and sheaths at base. Leaves basal or with cauline leaves at central culm. Basal leaves distichous, superimposing each other; sheaths not closed; leaf blade subleathery, 3-veined, flat, base folded. Bracts leaf-shaped, those at base of spikes scalelike. Spikes several to many, in a corymbose panicle, corymb, or capitulum, with many bractlets and spikelets; bractlets spirally and imbricately arranged, each with a spikelet; spikelets with 2 scales, 2 male flowers, and 1 female flower; scales lateral and opposite, cymbiform, membranous, keeled, pubescent on keel, connate, distinct, or connate on only adaxial side, each with a male flower (with a stamen), apical one with a female flower, without scales at base. Style slightly long; stigmas 2. Achenes biconvex, osseous, surface smooth or rugose, apex usually rostrate.

About 60: tropical and subtropical regions; three species (one endemic) in China.

1a. Culms central; inflorescence corymbose panicle or corymb, with many spikes; basalmost bract 15--30 X 0.7--1.7 cm, much longer than inflorescence................................................................................................................... 1. H. nemorum

1b. Culms lateral; inflorescence corymb congested into a capitulum, with few or many spikes; basalmost bract 1.5--5 X ca. 0.5 cm, slightly longer than inflorescence.

2a. Culms 5--10 cm tall; spikes few; achenes olivaceous, subglobose, ca. 2 mm, apex mucronate

....... ........................................................................................................................................................... 2. H. paucistrobiliferum

2b. Culms 30--40 cm tall; spikes many; achenes brown, obovoid to ovoid, ca. 3 mm, apex conically rostrate .......... 3. H. hainanense

1. Hypolytrum nemorum (Vahl) Sprengel, Syst. Veg., ed. 16, 1: 233. 1824.

割鸡芒 ge ji mang

Schoenus nemorum Vahl, Symb. Bot. 3: 8. 1794; Hypolytrum formosanum Ohwi; H. latifolium Richard.

Rhizome short, slightly thick, woody, with few hard fibrous roots and densely reddish scales. Culms central, 30--90 cm tall, 3--4 mm thick, trigonous, stiff. Leaves basal and 1 or 2 cauline, longer than culm; sheaths brownish, 5--15 cm, not closed and folded, margin thickly membranous, basal few bladeless; leaf blade 35--1.2 m X 0.8--2.6 cm or longer, flat, stiff, subleathery, base folded, margin scabrous near apex. Bracts 3--5, leaf-shaped, at base of inflorescence and branches, lowest one much longer than inflorescence, not sheathing. Inflorescence a corymbose panicle, ovoid-rounded to subglobose, 3--7 X 4.5--6 cm, with many spikes; rachis and rachilla angles of rachis scabrous. Spikes obovoid becoming globose when mature, 3--7 X 3--6 mm, with many scalelike bractlets and spikelets; bractlets brown, spirally and imbricately arranged, obovate, ca. 2 mm, each bractlet with a spikelet, midveined, apex rounded and mucronate. Spikelets ca. 1.5 mm, with 2 scales, 2 male flowers, and 1 female flower; scales brown, lateral and opposite, cymbiform, ca. 1.2 mm, connate on adaxial side, membranous, keeled, spinulate on keel, each with a male flower (with one stamen), apical one with female flower. Filament slender, anther narrowly oblong. Style slightly long; stigmas 2. Achenes dark grayish brown, subrounded, 2--2.5 mm (include rostrum length), biconvex, surface longitudinally rugose, apex conically rostrate. Fl. and fr. Apr--Aug.

Wet places in forests or scrub, valleys; 100--1200 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan. [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; tropical Africa and America, NE Australia, Pacific Islands].

2. Hypolytrum paucistrobiliferum T. Tang & F. T. Wang, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 11: 234. 1961.

少穗割鸡芒shao sui ge ji mang

Rhizome ± thick, woody, with few thick and hard fibrous roots. Culms purple, lateral, 5--10 cm tall, with several sheaths at base reduced to scales. Leaves basal, distichous, ligulate; sheaths 10--18 cm, not closed, smooth, margin narrowly thickly membranous; leaf blade 55--105 X 1.5--2 cm but apically gradually narrowed, flat, papery, smooth, margin and abaxial midvein apically serrulate and scabrous. Bracts 3--5, 2--5 cm; basalmost bract equaling inflorescence in length, basally closed into sheath. Inflorescence a corymbose panicle congested into head, with few spikes. Spikes with many bractlets and spikelets; bractlets each with a spikelet. Spikelets ca. 2 mm, with 2 scales, 2 male flowers, and 1 female flower; scales lateral and opposite, cymbiform, connate on adaxial side, membranous, hyaline, keeled, hispidulous on keel, each with a male flower (with a stamen), apical one with a female flower. Anther linear; connective slightly prominent up apex of anther. Stigmas 2, longer than style. Achenes olivaceous, subglobose, ca. 2 mm, both lateral sides angular, abaxially and adaxial surface 3--5 irregular longitudinally rugose, base shortly stipitate, apex mucronate. Fl. and fr. Aug--Sep.

* Dry places on hills; ca. 100 m. Hainan (Lingshui Xian).

3. Hypolytrum hainanense (Merrill) T. Tang & F. T. Wang, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 11: 201. 1961.

海南割鸡芒 hai nan ge ji mang

Mapania hainanensis Merrill, Lingn. Sci. J. 9: 35. 1930.

Rhizome stout, woody, with fibrous roots. Culms lateral, 30--40 cm tall, trigonous, basally with several scales and bladeless sheaths; basal scales broadly ovate; bladeless sheaths dark grayish brown, densely spirally arranged. Leaves basal, tufted, ligulate; sheaths reddish, to 14 cm, not closed, slightly folded, smooth, margin thickly membranous; leaf blade flat, ca. 1 m X 1--1.8 cm but apically gradually narrowed, papery, glabrous, margin and abaxial midvein serrulate. Bracts 2 or 3, leaf-shaped, 1.5--5 cm, slightly longer than inflorescence; basalmost bract sheathing. Inflorescence corymbose panicle congested into head, 1.3--2 X 1.5--2.5 cm, with many spikes. Spikes narrowly ellipsoid becoming globose in fruit, 5--6 mm in diam., with many bractlets and spikelets; bractlets yellowish brown and dark grayish brown punctate, spirally and imbricately arranged, oblong-obovate, 2.5--3 mm, leathery, keeled, each with a spikelet, margin white membranous, apex rounded. Spikelets with 2 scales, 2 male flowers, and 1 female flower, ca. 2 mm; scales dark grayish brown, lateral and opposite, narrowly elliptic and cymbiform, ca. 2.5 mm, membranous, connate on adaxial side, keeled, spinulate on keel, each with a male flower (with a stamen), apical one with a female flower. Anther narrowly oblong; connective not prominent up apex of anther. Stigmas 2. Achenes dark grayish brown, broadly obovoid to ovoid, ca. 3 mm, biconvex, surface irregularly and elevated longitudinally rugose, apex with a conically rostrate. Fl. and fr. May--Aug.

Forests, dry places on mountain slopes; 100--300 m. Hainan [Vietnam].

33. LEPIRONIA Richard in Persoon, Synops Pl. 1: 70. 1805.

石龙刍属shi long chu shu

Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯)

Herbs, perennial, with a woody rhizome. Culms terete, erect, with transverse septate-nodes, sheathing at base, without leaf blades. Bracts elongated from culm, erect, terenately subulate. Spike single, pseudolateral, with many bractlets and spikelets; bractlets spirally and imbricately arranged. Spikelets with many scales, or more male flowers and a female flower; basalmost 2 scales lateral and opposite, cymbiform, each with a male flower; middle scales in several cycles, each with or without a male flower; apical scale with a female flower. Male flower with a 1 stamen. Females flowers: style slightly short; stigmas 2, slender. Achenes compressed plano-convex, 7--9 longutudinal striate on both sides, apex not rostrate.

One species: tropical Asia and Australia, Madagascar, Pacific Islands; one species (not endemic) in China.

1. Lepironia articulata (Retzius) Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 85: 486. 1915.

石龙刍shi long chu

Restio articulatus Retzius, Observ. Bot. 4: 14. 1786; Lepironia compressa Boeckeler; L. mucronata Richard; L. muricata var. compressa (Boeckeler) E. G. Camus.

Rhizome repent, enveloped by brown ovate scales, Culms 0.7--1.5 m tall, 5--6 mm thick, terete, with 3 or 4 sheaths at base; sheaths brown to reddish, most to 30 cm, papery, not closed, bladeless, margin thickly membranous. Bract elongated from culm, 3--7 cm, subulate, apically terete and gradually narrowed. Spike single, brown to dark grayish brown, pseudo-lateral, ellipsoid to ovoid-ellipsoid, 1--2 X 0.6--1 cm, with many bractlets and spikelets, apex obtuse; bractlets brown and dark grayish brown striate, ovate, broadly ovate, or obovate-oblong, 4--5 X 4.5--5 mm, slightly concave, apex rounded. Spikelets with many scales, 8 or more male flowers, and 1 female flower; basalmost 2 scales brown, lateral and opposite, narrowly spatulate and cymbiform, ca. 5 mm, membranous, keel pubescent, apex acute; middle scales brown, linear-lanceolate and cymbiform, slightly shorter, membranous, each with or without a male flower, apex acuminate; apical scale with a female flower. Male flowers: stamen 1; anther linear-oblong; connective prominent above apex of anther. Female flower: style slightly shorter than stigmas; stigmas 2, long. Achenes at first yellowish but maturing to dark grayish brown, obovoid, ca. 4 X 3 mm, compressed, with 7--9 dark brown longitudinal striate on both sides, keeled on margins of lateral sides, keel apically spinulose. Fl. and fr. Feb--Jun.

Usually cultivated in ponds; 100--200 m. Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan [India, Indonesia, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Malaysia, New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; tropical Australia, Madagascar, Pacific Islands].