FAMILY 17. CYPERACEAE

Grass-like herbs, very rarely (Schoenodendron) low trees. Stems usually triangular, rarely jointed. Leaves with a closed sheath, sometimes without a blade. Flowers in genuine or spurious spikelets arranged in spikes, heads, or panicles. Perianth much reduced or wanting. Stamens 1-6. Anthers opening by 2 longitudinal slits. Ovary superior or naked, 1-celled. Ovule 1, basal, inverted. Style simple or with 2-3 branches. Fruit a nut or a drupe. Seed free. Embryo lateral, enclosed by the albumen.—Genera 40, species 880. “Sedges.” (Plate 9.)

1. Flowers unisexual, but sometimes (Bisboeckelerieae) apparently hermaphrodite, single female flowers being surrounded by several male ones; in this case false spikelets branched at the insertion of one of the lowest bracts.  2

Flowers hermaphrodite or polygamous. Flowers either in centripetal spikelets without a terminal flower or in centrifugal (false) spikelets branched at the insertion of the uppermost bract below the terminal flower.  13

2. Spikelets unisexual, rarely partly unisexual, partly bisexual; the female
1-flowered, the male 2- or more-flowered. Stamens 1-2, rarely 3.
[Tribe SCLERIEAE.]  3

Spikelets bisexual, rarely 1-flowered and spicate.  8

3. Perianth consisting of scales or bristles. Partial inflorescences panicled.  4

Perianth none.  6

4. Perianth of numerous bristles. Spikelets in spikes.—Species 6. Central
Africa to Transvaal.  Eriospora Hochst.

Perianth of 2-5 scales.  5

5. Perianth of 2-3 laciniate scales. Spikelets in head-like clusters. Herbs.—Species
1. West Africa.  Microdracoides Hua

Perianth of 3-5 ciliate scales. Spikelets in spikes. Small trees.—Species
1. West Africa (Cameroons).  Schoenodendron Engl.

6. Female flowers in the upper portion of the partial inflorescences. Spikelets in panicles.—Species 1. Madagascar. (Under Eriospora Hochst.)  Fintelmannia Kunth

Female flowers in the lower portion of the partial inflorescences or in special partial inflorescences.  7

7. Style thickened and jointed at the base, deeply 3-cleft. Fruit without a distinct disc. Spikelets in panicles. Leaves broad.—Species 3.
Tropics. (Under Scleria Berg)  Acriulus Ridl.

Style not thickened at the base. Fruit very hard, surrounded by a disc at the base.—Species 60. Tropical and South Africa. (Including
Diplacrum R. Br.)  Scleria Berg

8. (2.) Spikelets consisting of a terminal female flower surrounded by 3 or more male ones. Stamen 1. Female flowers not enclosed by an utricle-like
bracteole. [Tribe BISBOECKELERIEAE, Subtribe CHRYSITRICHINAE.]  9
Spikelets 1-flowered, spicate, rarely 2-flowered or consisting of a basal female flower and several male ones. Stamens usually 3. Female flowers enclosed by an utricle-like bracteole. [Tribe CARICEAE.]  11

9. Male flowers 3. Style-branches 3. Spikelets numerous, in spikes which are sometimes arranged in panicles or heads.—Species 12. Tropics. (Including
Thoracostachyum Kurz)  Mapania Aubl.

Male flowers 6 or more. Spikelets in spikes arranged in heads.  10

10. Style-branches 2. Fruit not ribbed. Spikes consisting of numerous spikelets. Leaves reduced to the sheath.—Species 1. Madagascar.
Used for plaiting-work.  Lepironia Rich.

Style-branches 3. Fruit many-striate. Spikes consisting of 1-4 spikelets.—Species
3. South Africa.  Chrysithrix L.

11. Lateral spikelets consisting of one female flower and 1-6 male inserted above the female flower upon the distinctly developed axis of the spikelet; rarely male flowers reduced to empty glumes or wanting. Utricle usually 2-cleft.—Species 6. South and East Africa. (Including Hemicarex
Benth.)  Schoenoxiphium Nees

Lateral spikelets consisting only of 1 female flower and the usually rudimentary axis. Utricle closed, entire or toothed.  12

12. Axis of the spikelet projecting beyond the utricle and hooked at the tip.—Species
2. Subantarctic islands.  Uncinia Pers.

Axis of the spikelet enclosed and straight or more frequently rudimentary and usually early disappearing.—Species 80. Extra-tropical regions and mountains of the tropics.  Carex L.

13. (1.) Spikelets (false spikelets) centrifugal, with a terminal flower, branched from the uppermost bract, 1-2-, rarely 3-6-flowered.  14

Spikelets centripetal, without a terminal flower, 3-many-, rarely 1-2-flowered; flowers hermaphrodite, a male one sometimes added.  24

14. Spikelets containing 1 terminal male flower and 1-2 lateral hermaphrodite flowers. Style dilated at the base.—Species 30. South Africa.
(Elynanthus Nees, including Macrochaetium Steud.) [Tribe GAHNIEAE.]  Tetraria Beauv.

Spikelets containing only hermaphrodite flowers, a male one being sometimes added. [Tribe RHYNCHOSPOREAE.]  15

15. Glumes 2-ranked. Style-branches 3.  16

Glumes not distinctly 2-ranked.  19

16. Perianth-bristles 6, alternately unequal. Fruit crowned by the base of the style. Spikelets in heads.—Species 9. South Africa, Madagascar and
Mascarene Islands. (Under Carpha R. Br.)  Asterochaete Nees

Perianth-bristles equal or wanting.  17

17. Perianth-bristles stiff, not feathery, or wanting. Fruit not beaked.—Species
6. South Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands, Abyssinia,
North Africa. (Including Epischoenus C.B. Clarke).  Schoenus L.

Perianth-bristles feathery.  18

18. Perianth-bristles 3. Glumes 4-5. Style with a thickened, persistent base. Spikelets in spikes or solitary.—Species 3. South Africa.
(Ecklonea Steud.)  Trianoptiles Fenzl

Perianth-bristles 6. Glumes numerous. Style slightly thickened. Spikelets in panicles.—Species 2. Madagascar and neighbouring islands.
(Under Schoenus L.)  Cyclocampe Steud.

19. Style-branches 1-2. Perianth of 6 or more bristles or wanting.—Species
15. (Rynchospora Vahl).  Rhynchospora Vahl

Style-branches 3.  20

20. Perianth of 3-6 bristles.  21

Perianth none.  22

21. Perianth of 3 bristles. Upper leaves with red sheaths.—Species 1. South
Africa. (Decalepis Boeck., under Tetraria Beauv.)  Boeckeleria Dur.

Perianth of 5-6 bristles. Lowest flower male.—Species 6. Madagascar and South Africa.  Costularia C. B. Clarke

22. Partial inflorescences arranged in a panicle.—Species 5.  Cladium R. Br.

Partial inflorescences arranged in a head.  23

23. Involucre of the inflorescence short. Stem leafless.—Species 1. Madagascar and neighbouring islands. (Arthrostylis Boeck.)  Actinoschoenus Benth.

Involucre of the inflorescence long. Stem leafy.—Species 1. West Africa and Madagascar. Used medicinally.  Remirea Aubl.

24. (13.) Bracteoles 1-2. [Tribe HYPOLYTREAE.]  25

Bracteoles none. [Tribe SCIRPEAE.]  28

25. Bracteoles 1-2, parallel with the glume (bract), i.e. placed before or behind or before and behind it. Stamens 1-2. [Subtribe LIPOCARPHINAE.]  26

Bracteoles 2, lateral to the glume, sometimes united. Stamens 2-3.
[Subtribe HYPOLYTRINAE.]  27

26. Bracteole 1, deciduous. Stamen 1. Spikelets solitary or in clusters of 2-3, subtended by a single involucral bract.—Species 2. Central and South
Africa. (Under Scirpus L.)  Hemicarpha Nees

Bracteoles 2, persistent. Stamens 1-2. Spikelets in heads surrounded by several involucral bracts.—Species 10. Tropical and South Africa.
(Hypaelyptum Vahl).  Lipocarpha R. Br.

27. Bracteoles united in front, longer than the glume. Spikelets solitary or in heads. Stem leafy at the base only.—Species 9. Tropical and
South Africa.  Ascolepis Nees

Bracteoles free or united behind, as long as or shorter than the glumes.
Spikelets in heads or panicles. Stem leafy throughout its length.—Species
10. Tropics.  Hypolytrum Rich.

28. (22.) Glumes distinctly 2-ranked. Partial inflorescences usually arranged in heads or umbels. [Subtribe CYPERINAE.]  29

Glumes not distinctly 2-ranked. Partial inflorescences usually arranged
in spikes or panicles. [Subtribe SCIRPINAE.]  34

29. Perianth consisting of 6 bristles. Spikelets in panicles.—Species 1. Region of the great lakes. (Under Carpha R. Br.)  Oreograstis K. Schum.

Perianth none.  30

30. Flowers with a toothed or lobed disc at the base of the ovary. Spikelets solitary or in heads.—Species 3. South Africa. (Under Ficinia
Schrad.)  Hemichlaena Schrad.

Flowers without a disc.  31

31. Style-branches 2. Spikelets containing an hermaphrodite and sometimes also a male flower, arranged in heads.—Species 40. Tropical and South
Africa. The root-stock of some species is used in perfumery and medicine; others yield fodder. (Plate 9.)  Kyllinga Rottb.

Style-branches 3, rarely 1-2, but then spikelets many-flowered.  32

32. Fertile flowers in each spikelet 1-2. Glumes with a winged keel, the lower glume enclosing the upper one. Spikelets in umbellately arranged heads.—Species 2. Tropics to Transvaal.  Courtoisia Nees

Fertile flowers in each spikelet 3 or more, rarely 1-2, but then glumes not winged or the lower glume not enclosing the upper one.  33

33. Glumes with the margins united into a cylinder at their base, long acuminate at the top. Spikelets terete, 3-4-flowered, in spikes. Stamens 2.—Species
1. South-east Africa. (Under Mariscus Gaertn. or Cyperus L.)  Cylindrolepis Boeck.

Glumes with free margins.—Species 300. The root-stocks of some (especially
C. esculentus L.) are eaten and used for the preparation of oil, perfume, and medicaments; the culms (especially of C. Papyrus L.) are used for making paper and for plaiting-work; some species serve as fodder- or ornamental plants, others are noxious weeds. (Including
Galilea Parl., Juncellus Griseb., Mariscus Vahl, Pycreus Beauv., and
Torulinium Desv.)  Cyperus L.

34. (28.) Style conspicuously thickened at the base.  35

Style not or slightly thickened at the base.  37

35. Perianth none. Style deciduous.—Species 75. Some are used as fodder.
(Including Abildgaardia Vahl and Bulbostylis Kunth).  Fimbristylis Vahl

Perianth consisting of 3-8 bristles. Base of the style usually persistent.  36

36. Spikelets in heads. Glumes in 5 rows.—Species 1. Tropics. (Under
Fuirena Rottb.)  Pentasticha Turcz.

Spikelets solitary.—Species 25. Some are used for plaiting-work or yield starch. (Eleocharis R. Br.)  Heleocharis R. Br.

37. Flowers with a toothed or lobed, persistent disc at the base of the ovary.
Glumes usually brown or black.—Species 65. South Africa and mountains of East Africa and Madagascar.  Ficinia Schrad.

Flowers without a disc.  38

38. Perianth-bristles 6 or more, much elongated after flowering. Spikelets solitary or in umbels.—Species 1. South Africa. The cotton-like
perianth-bristles are used for stuffing cushions. “Cotton-grass.”  Eriophorum L.

Perianth-bristles not elongated or wanting.  39

39. Glumes hairy, like the whole plant. Perianth of 3-6 toothed scales or bristles.—Species 20.  Fuirena Rottb.

Glumes glabrous.—Species 70. Some are used as ornamental plants or for plaiting-work, others have edible root-stocks, also used in medicine.
(Including Isolepis R. Br. and Schoenoplectus Reichb.)  Scirpus L.

ORDER PRINCIPES

FAMILY 18. PALMAE

Stem woody, usually simple. Leaves pinnately or palmately split, at least 2-cleft, usually collected in a crown at the top of the stem. Flowers in simple or branched spadices enveloped by spathes, usually unisexual and provided with rudimentary stamens or carpels. Perianth-segments 6, similar in texture, but often unequal in size, leathery or parchment-like, green, white or yellow. Stamens 6 or more, rarely 3, united at the base or adnate below to the perianth. Carpels 3, superior, distinct or united and then forming a 1-3-celled ovary; sometimes 2 carpels empty or reduced to the style. Ovules solitary in each cell, filling the cell and sometimes adhering to its wall. Fruits berry-or drupe-like. Seeds with a small embryo and horny albumen.—Genera 36, species 100. (Plates 10 and 11.)

1. Carpels 3, distinct. Fruit consisting of 1-3 smooth berries. Leaf-segments induplicate in bud. [Subfamily CORYPHOIDEAE.]  2

Carpels 3, united and forming a 1-3-celled ovary, or carpel 1.  3

2. Leaves fan-shaped. Spadices with 2 or more incomplete spathes. Flowers polygamous or dioecious. Perianth of the female flowers as in the male.
Seed ovate, not deeply grooved; albumen ruminate. Stem short, usually branched.—Species 1 (Ch. humilis L.). North-West Africa.
Used as an ornamental plant; the leaf-buds are eaten and the fibres used for making ropes or paper or for stuffing cushions. “Dwarf-palm.”
[Tribe SABALEAE.]  Chamaerops L.

Leaves pinnate. Spadices with one complete spathe. Flowers dioecious.
Perianth of the female flowers differing from the male. Seed oblong, with a deep longitudinal groove.—Species 5. Some (especially the date-palm, Ph. dactylifera L.) have edible fruits, also used for making brandy and sugar. They yield also palm-wine, wood, and fibres for plaiting and stuffing, and are used as ornamental plants. [Tribe PHOENICEAE.]  Phoenix L.

3. Leaves fan-shaped. Spadices with many incomplete spathes. Fruit a drupe with 1-3 distinct stones; epicarp smooth or minutely dotted.
[Subfamily BORASSOIDEAE, tribe BORASSEAE.]  4

Leaves pinnately dissected or 2-cleft. Fruit berry-like or covered with imbricate scales or containing a single stone; if fruit drupe-like and one-seeded, then spadices with 1-4 complete spathes.  8

4. Male flowers many in each pit of the spadix.  5

Male flowers solitary in each pit of the spadix.  6

5. Male flowers 20-30 in each pit of the spadix. Stamens about 30. Fruit nearly always with a single stone. Seeds deeply 2-lobed.—Species 1.
Seychelles. The fruit (“double cocoa-nut”) is eaten and used in medicine.  Lodoicea Labill.

Male flowers 10 in each pit of the spadix. Stamens 6. Fruit with 3 stones.
Seeds emarginate. Species 1 (B. flabellifer L., Palmyra palm). Tropics.
It yields timber, fibre (piassave), starch (sago), gum, vegetables, edible fruits, wine, vinegar, alcohol, sugar, and medicaments.  Borassus L.

6. Stamens 15-30. Fruit with 3 stones, very rarely with 1-2. Medium-sized trees.—Species 3. Madagascar and Mascarene Islands. They furnish fibre for plaiting-work and are used as ornamental plants; one species has edible fruits.  Latania Comm.

Stamens 6. Fruit with a single stone. Tall trees.  7

7. Albumen ruminate. Fruit medium-sized (the size of a walnut). Stem simple.—Species 3. Upper Nile and Madagascar. They yield timber, fibre, edible pith, and alcohol. (Including Bismarckia Hildebr. &
Wendl.)  Medemia G. de Wuert. & Braun

Albumen homogeneous. Fruit large. Stem usually branched.—Species
13. Tropics to Natal and Egypt. They yield wood, fibre, edible fruits, and wine. “Dum palm.”  Hyphaene Gaertn.

8. (3.) Ovary and fruit clothed with imbricate scales. Fruit one-seeded.
Flowers with bracts and bracteoles. Leaf-segments reduplicate in bud. [Subfamily LEPIDOCARYOIDEAE, tribe METROXYLEAE.]  9

Ovary and fruit without scales. Flowers usually without bracts. [Subfamily
CEROXYLOIDEAE.]  15

9. Ovary incompletely 3-celled. [Subtribe CALAMINAE.]  10

Ovary completely 3-celled. [Subtribe RAPHIINAE.]  11

10. Stem erect. Leaves without tendrils. Spadices terminal. Seed depressed-globose.—Species
1 (M. Rumphii Mart.) Cultivated in Madagascar and the Mascarenes. It yields wood, fibre for plaiting and weaving, vegetables, and starch (sago). (Sagus Blume).  Metroxylon Rottb.

Stem climbing. Leaves with tendrils. Spadices lateral.—Species 6.
Tropics. The stems (cane) are used for plaiting-work and for the manufacture of walking-sticks and various utensils. “Rattan-palm.”  Calamus L.

11. Stem erect. Flowers monoecious, the male and female on the same branches of the much-branched terminal spadices. Seed oblong or ovate.—Species
10. Tropics. The leaf-stalks (false bamboo) are used for building houses and making furniture, the fibres (piassave) for plaiting, weaving, and brush-making. The stems, leaf-buds, and fruits of some species yield starch, meal, vegetables, wine, and oil. (Plates 10 and 11.)  Raphia Beauv.

Stem climbing. Leaves with tendrils.  12

12. Flowers monoecious, in cymes on the primary branches of the lateral spadices; cymes consisting of one female and several male flowers.—Species
2. Equatorial West Africa. They furnish cane for plaiting-work and for the manufacture of various utensils. (Under Calamus L.)  Oncocalamus Mann & Wendl.

Flowers hermaphrodite or polygamous, in pairs on the branches of the spadices.  13

13. Spadices lateral. Spathes none.—Species 5. West Africa to the upper
Nile. They furnish cane for plaiting-work and for the manufacture of various utensils. (Under Calamus L.)  Eremospatha Mann & Wendl.

Spadices terminal. Spathes tubular.  14

14. Seed flattened, with a thick raphe. Leaves with a short stalk and narrow segments.—Species 1. West Africa to the upper Nile. They furnish cane for plaiting-work and for the manufacture of various utensils.
(Under Calamus L.)  Ancistrophyllum Mann & Wendl.

Seed roundish, deeply grooved, kidney-shaped in transverse section. Leaves with a rather long stalk and rather broad segments.—Species 2. West
Africa. They furnish cane for plaiting-work and for the manufacture of various utensils. (Under Ancistrophyllum Mann & Wendl. or Calamus
L.)  Laccosperma Mann & Wendl.

15. (8.) Fruit a drupe; endocarp very hard, with 3 pores. [Tribe COCOEAE.]  16

Fruit a berry; endocarp membranous, rarely woody. [Tribe ARECEAE.]  17

16. Flowers sunk singly in deep pits of the spadix-branches. Spadices unisexual, with 2 deciduous spathes. Stamens united high up. Fruit rather small; pericarp spongy outside; pores towards the top of the stone.—Species 1 (E. guineensis L. oil-palm). Central Africa. The stem and the leaves furnish wood, fibre, vegetables, and wine; the fruits are edible and used for making oil. [Subtribe ELAEIDINAE.]  Elaeis Jacq.

Flowers inserted singly or in groups of three in shallow pits or notches of the spadix-branches. Spadices bisexual, with a woody, persistent spathe. Stamens free or united at the base. Fruit large; pericarp fibrous; pores towards the base of the stone.—Species 1 (C. nucifera L., coco-nut-palm). Cultivated and sometimes naturalised on the shores of the tropics. The stem and the leaves furnish wood, fibre, tanning materials, vegetables, wine, and medicaments; the fruits are edible and yield oil, fodder, and a drink. [Subtribe ATTALEINAE.]  Cocos L.

17. Leaves with long prickles. Spadices branched; spathes 2 or more, complete.
Corolla of the female flowers imbricate in bud. Ovary 1-celled, with a laterally affixed ovule. Stigmas 3.  18

Leaves without prickles.  23

18. Leaves with a long sheath. Spadices below the leaves. Seed with homogeneous albumen.  19

Leaves with a rather short sheath. Spadices between the leaves. Seed with ruminate albumen.  20

19. Seed obtusely triquetrous. Stamens 9.—Species 1. Seychelles.  Deckenia Wendl.

Seed ellipsoid, slightly compressed laterally. Stamens usually 12.—Species
3. Madagascar and Mascarenes. Used in house-building and as ornamental plants.  Acanthophoenix Wendl.

20. Leaves 2-cleft, with pinnately toothed margins.  21

Leaves irregularly pinnatisect.  22

21. Stamens 6. Seed and endocarp furrowed. Spadices with 3 spathes. Leaf-stalk prickly.—Species 1. Seychelles. Used as an ornamental plant.  Verschaffeltia Wendl.

Stamens 15-20. Seed and endocarp not furrowed. Spadices with 2 spathes. Leaf-stalk smooth.—Species 1. Seychelles. Used as an ornamental plant. (Stevensonia Duncan).  Phoenicophorium Wendl.

22. Stamens 6. Seed elliptical. Spadices twice branched, with several spathes.—Species
1. Seychelles. Used as an ornamental plant.  Roscheria Wendl.

Stamens 40-50. Seed kidney-shaped. Spadices once branched, with
2 spathes.—Species 1. Seychelles.  Nephrosperma Balf.

23. (17.) Spadices with many tubular incomplete spathes, twice branched.
Stamens 6. Ovary 3-celled. Stem tree-like.—Species 4. Madagascar and Mascarenes. Used as ornamental plants. The fruit is said to be poisonous.  Hyophorbe Gaertn.

Spadices with 1-4 spathes, all or the uppermost complete (i.e. completely enveloping the spadix, when young.)  24

24. Spadices with 4 spathes, simple. Flowers sunk in pits on the spadix.
Corolla valvate in bud. Stamens 6. Ovary 3-celled. Stem reed-like.—Species
1. West Africa. The fruit is edible.  Podococcus Mann & Wendl.

Spadices with 1-3 spathes; if simple, then corolla of the female flowers imbricate in bud or stamens 3 or many.  25

25. Stamens numerous. Stigma 1. Ovary 1-celled. Corolla valvate in bud.
Spadices simple. Flowers sunk in pits on the spadix. Stem short.—Species
1. Equatorial West Africa.  Sclerosperma Mann & Wendl.

Stamens 3-6. Stigmas usually 3.  26

26. Stamens in the male flowers 3, staminodes in the female 6. Ovary with 1 fertile and 2 empty cells.  27

Stamens 6.  28

27. Stamens opposite the petals, united at the base.—Species 3. Madagascar.  Trichodypsis Baill.

Stamens alternating with the petals, free or almost free.—Species 7. Madagascar.
Used as ornamental plants. (Including Adelodypsis Becc.)  Dypsis Nor.

28. Ovary 1-celled.  29

Ovary 3-celled, but usually one cell only fertile.  34

29. Spadices simple. Leaves deeply forked. Stem short, erect.—Species 5.
Madagascar.  Haplophloga Baill.

Spadices branched.  30

30. Spadices once branched. Stigma usually 1. Stem tree-like.—Species
5. Madagascar and neighbouring islands. Used as ornamental plants.
The fibres of the leaves (piassave) are used in the manufacture of ropes and stuffs.  Dictyosperma Wendl. & Drude

Spadices 2-3 times branched. Stigmas usually 3.  31

31. Spadices twice branched. Male flowers with valvate or subimbricate sepals. Anthers sagittate, basifixed, opening outwards or laterally.
Rudimentary pistil 3-cleft. Female flowers larger than the male.
Stigmas 3, subsessile. Tall trees.—Species 1 (A. Catechu L., betel palm).
Cultivated in East Africa. It yields wood, bark for tanning, fibre, vegetables, wine, and medicaments; the fruits are chewed.  Areca L.

Spadices thrice branched. Male flowers with imbricate sepals. Anthers ovoid, opening inwards. Rudimentary pistil entire.  32

32. Styles basal. Stem reed-like.—Species 2. Madagascar. (Chrysalidocarpus
Wendl.)  Neodypsis Baill.

Styles or stigmas terminal.  33

33. Leaves irregularly pinnatisect, with lanceolate segments. Stem low, reed-like.—Species 1. Madagascar. (Under Dypsidium Baill.)  Neophloga Baill.

Leaves regularly pinnatisect, with linear segments. Stem tall.—Species
2. Madagascar and Comoro Islands. (Including Vonitra Becc.)  Phlogella Baill.

34. Spadices simple. Petals lanceolate. Anther-halves linear. Style conical.—Species
3. Madagascar.  Haplodypsis Baill.

Spadices much branched. Petals ovate or orbicular. Anther-halves oblong or ovate. Style 3-partite.  35

35. Flowers monoecious. Sepals of the male flowers orbicular. Stamens unequal in length. Stigmas awl-shaped. Albumen ruminate.—Species
5. Madagascar. Leaves used for plaiting-work.  Phloga Nor.

Flowers dioecious. Sepals of the male flowers elliptical. Stamens subequal.
Stigmas short and thick. Albumen homogeneous.—Species 2. Madagascar and Comoro Islands.  Ravenea Hildebr. & Bouché

ORDER SPATHIFLORAE

FAMILY 19. ARACEAE

Leaves usually net-veined. Flowers in spadices, without bracteoles. Perianth simple or wanting. Fruit indehiscent or bursting irregularly, usually berry-like. Seed-coat fleshy.—Genera 33, species 150. (Plate 12.)

1. Flowers hermaphrodite.  2

Flowers unisexual.  5

2. Perianth none. Ovary incompletely 2-celled with several ascending ovules. Climbing shrubs. Leaves stalked, lanceolate.—Species 2.
West Africa. Used as ornamental plants. (Raphidophora Schott).
[Tribe MONSTEREAE.]  Afroraphidophora Engl.

Perianth of 4-6 segments.  3

3. Ovary 1-celled. Ovules 2 or more. Tall herbs. Juice milky. Root-stock tuberous. Leaves sagittate; stalk prickly.—Species 1. West
Africa. Used for making salt. [Tribe LASIEAE.]  Cyrtosperma Griff.

Ovary 2-3-celled. Juice not milky.  4

4. Ovule one in each cell, ascending, inverted. Seeds exalbuminous. Climbing shrubs. Leaves stalked, lanceolate to ovate. Spathe oblong or ovate.—Species
1. Madagascar and Comoro Islands. [Tribe POTHOEAE.]  Pothos L.

Ovules several in each cell, pendulous, straight. Seeds albuminous.
Herbs with a creeping root-stock. Leaves sessile, linear, sword-shaped.
Spathe linear, sword-shaped, forming a continuation of the flowering stem.—Species 1 (A. Calamus L., sweet-flag). Introduced in the
Mascarene Islands. Yields tanning-materials and is used in the preparation of perfumes, liquors, snuff, and medicaments. [Tribe ACOREAE.]  Acorus L.

5. Perianth present.  6

Perianth none.  8

6. Perianth cupular. Ovary 1-4-celled with 2 or more ovules in each cell.
Juice milky. Leaves sagittate; stalk not thickened near the middle.
Spathe-margins connate below.—Species 20. Central and South-East
Africa. [Tribe STYLOCHITONEAE.]  Stylochiton Leprieur

Perianth of 4 free segments. Ovary 2-celled with 1 ovule in each cell.
Juice not milky. Leaves pinnate; stalk with a thickened joint near the middle. Spathe-margins free. [Tribe ZAMIOCULCASEAE.]  7

7. Stamens with free filaments; anthers opening by slits. Leaves several, once pinnate. Spathe upon a short stalk.—Species 1. East Africa and Mascarene Islands. Used as an ornamental plant.  Zamioculcas L.

Stamens with united filaments; anthers opening by pores. Leaf 1, thrice pinnate in the adult stage. Spathe upon a long stalk.—Species 2.
East Africa to the upper Congo.  Gonatopus Hook. fil.

8. Stamens united throughout their length or almost so.  9

Stamens free or united in pairs or at the base only.  17

9. Female (inferior) part of the spadix adnate to the spathe, 1-flowered.
Stamens 2. Floating water-plants. Juice not milky.—Species 1.
Tropical and South Africa and Egypt. Used medicinally. [Tribe
PISTIEAE.]  Pistia L.

Female part of the spadix free from the spathe, several-flowered.
Stamens 3-8, very rarely 2. Land- or marsh-plants. Juice milky.  10

10. Stem creeping. Leaves lanceolate, parallel-veined, with numerous primary and secondary lateral veins. Ovary completely or incompletely
2-3-celled with numerous ovules.—Species 12. West Africa. [Tribe
ANUBIADEAE.]  Anubias Schott

Stem erect or tuberous. Leaves ovate, ovate-sagittate or dissected, net-veined, rarely parallel-veined with 5 primary lateral nerves.  11

11. Ovules 1-3. Spadix with barren flowers below and above the male ones.
Stem short, ascending. Leaves ovate or sagittate, entire, with about
5 primary lateral nerves and many parallel secondary ones.—Species
2. Madagascar and neighbouring islands and Zanzibar. They yield fibre and edible tubers and seeds and are used in medicine.  Typhonodorum Schott

Ovules 4 or more. Leaves sagittate- or cordate-ovate and net-veined, or dissected.  12

12. Ovules 4. Female flowers with staminodes. Spadix with a terminal appendage. Stem tuberous. Leaves dissected.—Species 1. Seychelles.
[Tribe PROTAREAE.]  Protarum Engl.

Ovules more than 4. Leaves sagittate- or cordate-ovate. [Tribe COLOCASIEAE.]  13

13. Ovary completely 1-celled. Ovules straight or almost so.  14

Ovules incompletely 2-3-celled. Ovules inverted. Spadix without a terminal appendage.  16

14. Ovules few, basal. Stem erect. Spadix with a terminal appendage.—Species
1. Cultivated and sometimes naturalised in Madagascar and the neighbouring islands. Stem and leaves are edible; also used as an ornamental plant.  Alocasia Schott

Ovules many, parietal. Stem tuberous.  15

15. Spadix with a terminal appendage. Spathe erect. Stamens 3-6.—Species
1 (C. antiquorum Schott, taro or dinde). Cultivated and sometimes naturalised in Tropical and North Africa. The tubers and leaves are eaten and used in medicine; also an ornamental plant. (Under Caladium
Vent.)  Colocasia Schott

Spadix without an appendage. Spathes recurved at the top. Stamens
2-3.—Species 1. Island of Socotra. Used as an ornamental plant.  Remusatia Schott

16. Style disc-like, adnate to the styles of the neighbouring flowers. Ovules with a long funicle. Leaves leathery.—Species 2. Cultivated and sometimes naturalised in West Africa and the Mascarene Islands. Used as ornamental plants or vegetables.  Xanthosoma Schott

Style none. Ovules with a short funicle. Leaves herbaceous, usually with red spots.—Species 1. Cultivated and sometimes naturalised in West Africa. Used as an ornamental plant.  Caladium Vent.

17. (8.) Stem above ground and usually climbing or underground and creeping.
Spadix without an appendage. Ovary 1-2-celled with 1 ovule in each cell.  18

Stem underground, short and thick, more or less tuberous. Juice milky.  23

18. Juice milky. Leaves cordate or sagittate. Female inflorescence not adnate to the spathe. Ovary 1-celled. [Tribe NEPHTHYTIDEAE.]  19

Juice not milky. Leaves lanceolate oblong or elliptical, acute or obtuse at the base, rarely cordate and then female inflorescence adnate to the spathe or ovary 2-celled. Seed albuminous.  22

19. Stem underground, creeping.—Species 3. West Africa. Used as ornamental plants. (Including Oligogynium Engl.)  Nephthytis Schott

Stem above ground, climbing, woody.  20

20. Leaves perforated or dissected. Male inflorescence three times as long as the female and contiguous to it. Ovary with a strongly projecting parietal placenta.—Species 2. West Africa.  Rhektophyllum N. E. Brown

Leaves entire or lobed, not perforated. Ovary with a slightly projecting parietal or sub-basal placenta.  21

21. Leaves oblong, shortly cordate at the base. Male inflorescence twice as long as the female and contiguous to it. Stamens 2-3.—Species 1.
West Africa (Cameroons). (Under Cercestis Schott).  Alocasiophyllum Engl.

Leaves sagittate or hastate. Stamens usually 4.—Species 7. West
Africa.  Cercestis Schott

22. Stem creeping. Female inflorescence adnate to the spathe, as long as the male. Ovary conical. Style present.—Species 1. Central Africa.
Used as an ornamental plant. [Tribe CALLOPSIDEAE.]  Callopsis Engl.

Stem climbing or erect. Female inflorescence free from the spathe.
Ovary subglobose. Style wanting.—Species 17. Central Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. [Tribe CULCASIEAE.]  Culcasia Beauv.

23. (17.) Spadix covered with fertile flowers to the top. Ovary with 4 or more ovules. Leaves sagittate or hastate. Spathe funnel-shaped.—Species
10. South Africa and southern Central Africa; one species
(Z. aethiopica Spreng.) cultivated as an ornamental plant under the name of “Calla” and naturalised in the island of Madeira. (Aroides Heist.,
Richardia Kunth). [Tribe ZANTEDESCHIEAE.]  Zantedeschia Spreng.

Spadix ending in an appendage which is glabrous or covered with rudimentary flowers, rarely without an appendage, but then ovary 1-2-ovuled and leaves dissected.  24

24. Ovules inverted. Ovary usually 2-4-celled. Male and female portions of the spadix contiguous, rarely separated by a glabrous interval without barren flowers. Leaf 1, dissected. [Tribe AMORPHOPHALLEAE.]  25

Ovules straight. Ovary 1-celled. Seeds albuminous. Spadix with a terminal appendage. [Tribe AREAE.]  27

25. Spadix ending in a flowerless appendage.—Species 35. Tropics. Some have edible tubers or are used as ornamental plants. (Under Amorphophallus
Blume). (Plate 12.)  Hydrosme Schott.

Spadix covered with flowers to the top; upper flowers sometimes reduced
to barren stamens.  26

26. Ovary 1-celled. Male inflorescence as long as the female. Spathe boat-shaped.—Species
7. Central Africa. Some have edible tubers.  Anchomanes Schott

Ovary 2-celled. Male inflorescence longer than the female.—Species 2.
Equatorial West Africa. (Including Zyganthera N.E. Brown).  Pseudohydrosme Engl.

27. Spadix unisexual (containing male or female flowers only). Stamens 2-4.
Ovules basal. Leaves dissected.—Species 4. East Africa. Some are poisonous.  Arisaema Mart.

Spadix bisexual (containing both male and female flowers).  28

28. Male inflorescence contiguous to the female.  29

Male inflorescence separated from the female by a distinct interval usually covered with rudimentary flowers.  30

29. Stamen 1. Anther opening by a slit. Ovules basal. Leaves sagittate or hastate.—Species 2. North Africa. Used as ornamental plants.
The tubers are poisonous when raw, but edible when cooked, and furnish starch, medicaments, and a substitute for soap.  Arisarum Targ. Tozz.

Stamens 3-4. Anthers opening by pores. Ovules basal or apical. Leaves several dissected.—Species 2. North-west Africa. Used as ornamental plants. The tubers are poisonous when raw, but edible when cooked, and furnish starch, medicaments, and a substitute for soap.  Dracunculus Schott

30. Interval between the male and the female inflorescence without rudimentary flowers. Spathe divided into two chambers, one of which contains a female flower, the other one several male flowers. Stamens 2. Ovules numerous. Leaves ovate.—Species 1. North-west Africa (Algeria).  Ambrosinia Bassi

Interval between the male and the female inflorescence clothed with rudimentary flowers. Spathe not 2-chambered. Female flowers several.  31

31. Ovules 6 or more, parietal. Stamens 3-4. Leaves sagittate or hastate.—Species
2. North Africa. Poisonous and sometimes used as ornamental plants. The tubers are edible when cooked and yield starch; they are also used in medicine and as a substitute for soap.  Arum L.

Ovules 1-4, basal. Stamens 1-2. Leaves linear, oblong, ovate, or dissected.  32

32. Ovule 1. Leaves several, entire.—Species 3. North Africa. Used as ornamental plants. The tubers are edible when cooked, and yield starch, medicaments, and a substitute for soap.  Biarum Schott

Ovules 2-4. Leaf 1, dissected.—Species 2. East Africa and Angola.
Used as ornamental plants. The tubers are edible when cooked, and yield starch, medicaments, and a substitute for soap.  Sauromatum Schott

FAMILY 20. LEMNACEAE

Floating herbs without distinct stems or leaves, consisting of leaf-or grain-like fronds. Inflorescence seated in a cavity of the frond and consisting of 1-2 male flowers and a female. Flowers monoecious, without a perianth. Stamen 1. Ovary 1-celled, with 1-6 basal ovules and a funnel-shaped stigma. Seed-coat fleshy.—Genera 3, species 12.

1. Fronds rootless. Inflorescence on the back of the frond, without a spathe and consisting of 1 male and 1 female flower.—Species 6. (Including
Wolffiella Hegelm., under Lemna L.) [Subfamily WOLFFIOIDEAE.]  Wolffia Horkel

Fronds with roots. Inflorescence at the margin of the frond, consisting of
2 male and a female flower enclosed by a spathe. [Subfamily LEMNOIDEAE.]  2

2. Fronds with one root each, 3-5-nerved.—Species 5. Some are used in medicine. “Duckweed.”  Lemna L.

Fronds with several roots each, many-nerved.—Species 1. (Under Lemna
L.)  Spirodela Schleid.

ORDER FARINOSAE

SUBORDER FLAGELLARIINEAE

FAMILY 21. FLAGELLARIACEAE

Climbing herbs. Leaves lanceolate, ending in a tendril. Flowers in panicles, regular, hermaphrodite. Perianth-segments 6, free, subpetaloid, yellowish or whitish, the outer somewhat shorter than the inner. Stamens 6. Anthers turned inwards. Ovary superior, 3-celled, with a solitary, inverted ovule in the inner angle of each cell. Style with 3 linear, recurved stigmas. Fruit a 1-2-seeded berry. Seeds with a mealy albumen and a small marginal embryo.

Genus 1. Species 1. Tropical and South-east Africa. Used in medicine and for plaiting-work.  Flagellaria L.

SUBORDER ENANTIOBLASTAE

FAMILY 22. RESTIONACEAE

Grass-like herbs. Leaves linear or reduced to the sheath. Flowers in spikelets usually arranged in spikes or panicles, regular, unisexual. Perianth of 3-6 membranous or scarious segments, imbricate in bud, rarely absent in the female flowers. Stamens 2-3. Anthers 1-celled. Ovary superior, 1-3-celled, with 1-3 pendulous, straight ovules. Fruit dry. Seeds with a mealy albumen and a marginal embryo.—Genera 12. Species 230. South Africa to Nyasaland. (Plate 13.)

1. Ovary 1-celled, sometimes 2-3-celled when young. Fruit 1-celled, indehiscent.  2

Ovary 2-3-celled. Fruit 1-3-celled, dehiscent. Flowers dioecious.  10

2. Spikelets, all or most of them, bisexual, containing a male and a female flower, arranged in spikes. Styles 2.—Species 1. South Africa.  Phyllocomos Mast.

Spikelets unisexual.  3

3. Female spikelets 1-flowered. Styles or stigmas 2.  4

Female spikelets 2-many-flowered, very rarely 1-flowered, but then stigmas
3.  6

4. Glumes distant. Male spikelets in panicles, female in spikes.—Species
10. South Africa (Cape Colony). (Including Ceratocaryum Nees).  Willdenowia Thunb.

Glumes closely imbricate.  5

5. Female flowers on a thick stalk. Style 1, with 2 stigmas. Fruits more or less distinctly stalked.—Species 15. South Africa (Cape Colony).  Hypodiscus Nees

Female flowers on a thin stalk or sessile. Styles 2. Fruits sessile.—Species
20. South Africa to Nyasaland.  Hypolaena R. Br.

6. Outer perianth-segments of the female flowers winged on the keel.  7

Outer perianth-segments not winged. Styles 2-3.  8

7. Style 1. Female spikelets in spikes.—Species 15. South Africa (Cape
Colony).  Thamnochortus Berg

Styles 2-3. Female spikelets solitary or in fascicles.—Species 5. South
Africa (Cape Colony). (Under Thamnochortus Berg).  Staberoha Kunth

8. Female spikelets solitary or in clusters of 2-3 on the top of the stem,
2-5-flowered. Outer perianth-segments larger than the inner. Styles
2.—Species 8. South Africa (Cape Colony).  Cannomois Beauv.

Female spikelets in spikes or panicles. Outer perianth-segments as large as or smaller than the inner, more rarely larger, but then styles 3.  9

9. Leaf-sheaths persistent. Styles 3.—Species 15. South Africa.  Leptocarpus R. Br.

Leaf-sheaths deciduous, more rarely persistent, but then styles 2.—Species
30. South Africa. (Including Lamprocaulos Mast.)  Elegia L.

10. (1.) Leaf-sheaths persistent.—Species 100. South Africa. (Plate 13.)  Restio L.

Leaf-sheaths, at least the upper ones, deciduous. Spikelets few-flowered.  11

11. Ovary and fruit 2-celled. Female spikelets in short spikes.—Species 1.
South Africa (Cape Colony).  Askidiosperma Steud.

Ovary and fruit 3-celled.—Species 15. South Africa.  Dovea Kunth

FAMILY 23. MAYACACEAE

Herbs. Leaves alternate, linear, 2-toothed at the apex. Flowers in axillary, 2-3-flowered umbels, regular, hermaphrodite. Perianth consisting of 3 imbricate sepals and 3 imbricate petals. Stamens 3. Anthers opening by a terminal pore. Ovary superior, 1-celled, with 3 parietal placentas. Ovules numerous, straight. Style and stigma simple. Fruit capsular. Embryo at the apex of the mealy albumen.

Genus 1, species 1. Southern West Africa (Angola).  Mayaca Aubl.