Part 35

Rhizome woody, giving out suckers 12 in. long or more, clothed with dark-brown scales; stems 12-18 in. long. Leaves ⅙ in. broad, longer than stem; sheaths fleshy, with transverse lines. Umbels subsimple, rays 3-7, up to 2 in. long; bracts 4, lowest 6 in. long; spikes of 3-8 ebracteolate spikelets; spikelets 16-fld., brown to black, keels yellowish-brown or green; style shorter than nut, which is ¼ length of glume, dark-brown.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (main river: Nuer villages).

=P. albomarginatus= _Nees._

Annual; stem solitary, 1-3 ft. high, 3-angled at top. Leaves ⅔ length of stem, ab. ¼ in. broad. Umbel usually compound; primary rays 3-11, 1-7 in. long; bracts 3-6, lowest 8-18 in. long. Spikes subglobose or elongate, 1¼-2 in. long, of 8-12 usually ebracteolate spikelets; spikelets straw-coloured, 18-30 fld.; glumes with white margins; nut black, ⅔ length of glume.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Kordofan Prov. (Abu Garad); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

826 =Juncellus alopecuroides= _C. B. Clarke._ SEID & SAMAR BALADI (Egypt)—Arab.

Large herb; stem solitary, 18-36 in. long, 3-angled at top. Leaves length of stem, ⅓ in. broad. Umbel 6 in. and more in diam., compound; rays 4-10; bracts 3-8, lowest 6 in. and more long; spikes 3-5 together, sessile, 1-1½ in. long, dense; spikelets 8-30 fld.; compressed, straw- coloured; glumes closely imbricate; nut ⅓ length of glume, anterior angle flattened.

Fung Prov.; Kordofan Prov.; Darfur Prov. (J. Marra: Kallokitting 4,200 ft.); Upper White Nile Prov. (Mouth of Bahr El Zeraf).

Cultivated in Lower Egypt for its stems which are made into mats, also for sweetening land about to be reclaimed.

=J. pustulatus= _C. B. Clarke._

Annual; stems tufted, 4-16 in. long. Leaves few, ab. ⅔ length of stem, narrow. Umbels simple, rays 1-5, 0-2½ in. long; bracts 3, lowest 3-7 in. long. Spikes of 2-5 subsessile spikelets, ebracteolate; spikelets white, purple-marked, up to ½ in. long; rhachilla persistent; flowering glumes 8-18; nut 2/5 length of glume, much flattened on anterior angle.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

=J. pygmæus= _C. B. Clarke._

Annual; stems densely tufted, 1-10 in. high. Leaves as long, narrow. Infl. a dense compound head of numerous spikelets; bracts 3-8, dilated at base, lowest up to 3-6 in. long; spikelets green to pale-brown, 1/5 in. long, compressed, 8-24. fld.; glumes deciduous from lowest, rhachilla persistent; nut ab. ⅓ length of glume, plano-convex, brown, smooth.

Dongola Prov. (banks of the Nile); Khartoum Prov. (North); Blue Nile Prov.; White Nile & Kordofan Provinces.

=J. lævigatus= _C. B. Clarke._

Rhizome woody; stems crowded or distant, 6-24 in. long, bases enclosed by red-brown scales. Leaves variable, usually short. Spike solitary, lateral, of 1-30 spikelets; bracts 2, lowest continuing the stem, 1-3 in. long; spikelets ⅓ in. long, straw-coloured, 12-24. fld.; nut ab. ⅔ length of glume, plano-convex; rhachilla persistent.

Nubia; Red Sea Prov. (Sinkat & 21° N.L.); Darfur Prov. (J. Meidob, 2,400 ft.).

827 =Cyperus nudicaulis= _Poir._

Floating herb; rhizome long; stems tufted, 12-30 in. long. Leaves reduced to pale-brown leaf-sheaths. Head of 1-12 sessile spikelets; bracts 1-3, the lowest suberect, continuing the stem, shorter than head; spikelets ½-1 in. long, flattened, 30-70 fld., pale or reddish; glumes 3-nerved, falling off seriatim from lowest from persistent rhachilla; sta. 3; style long, branches short; nut ⅔ length of glume, flattened, base corky, thickened.

White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Jebel (Sudd); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (main river).

=C. Colymbetes= _Kotschy_ & _Peyr._

Stems tufted, 1-2 ft. long, 3-angled. Leaves 0. Head of 6-30 spikelets; bracts 2; spikelets ½-⅔ in. long, up to 40 fld., otherwise as above.

Fung Prov. (Saoleil & Sherif); Mouth of Bahr El Jebel.

=C. leucocephalus= _Retz._

Glabrous herb; stems bulbous at base, 4-10 in. long, tufted. Leaves up to ⅔ length of stem. Head 1 globose, white or pale brown, up to ⅔ in. diam., of 6-40 spikelets; bracts 3, lowest 2 in. long; spikelets up to ⅓ in. long, compressed; glumes 1-3 nerved close; sta. 1; style shorter than nut which is ⅓-⅔ length of glume, yellow, bluntly 3-angled.

Darfur Prov. (Kulme 3,600 ft.).

=C. compactus= _Lam._ ’ESHŪB, SE’ED—Arab.

Perennial; rhizome short; stem 4-16 in. long, with hard, dark brown leaf-sheaths at base. Leaves up to length of stem. Head 1 of 5-20 spikelets, ½-1½ in. diam., yellowish; bracts 3-4, dilated at base, lowest 2-4 in. long; spikelets ⅓-⅔ in., oblong, compressed, 8-18 fld.; glumes ab. ¼ in. long, close, striate; nut ⅓ length of glume, 3-angled; style shorter than nut.

Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Abu Gurun’s Zariba).

=C. conglomeratus= _Rottb._

Glabrous herb; rhizome usually short; roots woolly; stems 4-24 in. long, somewhat 3-angled at top. Leaves half to twice as long as stem. Simple umbel or head of few spikes; bracts 3-5, lowest 3-6 in. long, suberect, dilated at base; spikelets 3-25 to a head, ab. ½ in. long, 8-16 fld., straw-coloured or pale brown; glumes minutely mucronate, ribbed; style short, branches rather long; nut ⅓ length of glume, 3-angled.

Nubian Desert (Wadi El Derood); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Darfur Prov.

=C. cruentus= _Rottb._ TOROG—Hadendowa; ASHAM—Rashida.

Spikelets narrower and glumes closer on rhachilla, but otherwise as above.

Nubia (between Suakin & Berber: Obak); Dongola Prov.; Berber Prov. (Atbara, near Bulak); Kassala Prov. (Gash Delta: Um Adam); Red Sea Prov. (Er-Rih Island, Red Sea); Kordofan Prov. (Abu Garad).

=C. amabilis= _Vahl._

Glabrous annual; stems tufted, 2-8 in. long. Leaves up to ½ length of stem. Umbel simple or compound (rarely 1 head), rays up to 14 and 4 in. long; bracts up to 4, shorter than umbel. Spikelets 3-10 together, ⅔ in long, golden-brown, 16-36 fld.; glumes minutely mucronate, keel of 3-5 green nerves; style as long as nut; nut 2/5 length of glume, obovoid, brown.

White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas, Bongo-land); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

=C. uncinatus= _Poir._

Glabrous annual; stems tufted, 2-10 in. long. Leaves length of stem, bristly. Umbels usually simple; bracts 3-6, bristly, longer than umbel; spikelets digitate, usually 3-10 together, ½ in. long, 8-28 fld., compressed, pale-rusty to brown; glumes 3-nerved, the green keel produced into a prominent bristle; nut half as long as glume (excl. mucro), oblong-obovoid.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur-land); Bahr El Jebel (Madi).

=C. reduncus= _Hochst._

Glabrous herb; stems tufted, 2-10 in. long. Leaves length of stem. Umbel usually compound, 3-4 in. diam.; bracts longer than umbel. Spikes digitate, of 3-20 spikelets, which are flattened and 30 fld.; glumes with short recurved mucro; style short, as are the branches; nut ab. ¾ in. length of glume, narrow, brown.

Fung Prov. (Fazoghli); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

=C. difformis= _Linn._

Glabrous annual; stems tufted, 4-20 in. long, 3-angled at top. Leaves ½-⅔ length of stem. Spikes in simple or compound umbel or contracted into 1 head; bracts 2-4, lowest 2-10 in. long. Spikelets many in dense heads, dusky or brown, 10-30 fld.; glumes close packed, obtuse; sta. 1 (rarely 2); style much shorter than nut, branches short: nut nearly as long as glume, 3-angled, straw-coloured to brown.

Kordofan Prov. (Rahad); Darfur Prov. (Kulme 3,300 ft.); Bahr El Jebel (Madi); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas; Niamniam-land: Linduku River).

=C. microlepis= _Boeck._

Spikelets whitish; glumes more elongate and less obtuse, and nut more elongate and narrower than in above.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo: Gir; Jur: Jur Ghattas).

=C. dichroostachyus= _Hochst._

Glabrous herb; rhizome 4-8 in. long; stems distant, 18-36 in. long, sharply 3-angled at top. Leaves ½-¾ length of stem, up to ½ in. broad. Umbel lateral, compound, 2-5 in. diam.; bracts 3-4, up to 8 in. long, lowest in continuation of stem. Spikes of 3-5 spikelets, digitate, numerous; spikelets white, brown spotted, 6-14 fld.; glumes 1-nerved, obtuse; sta. 2; style very short; nut ¾ length of glume, yellow-brown.

North Kordofan Prov.; Bahr El Jebel (Sudd).

=C. Haspan= _Linn._

Glabrous herb; rhizome creeping; stems distant or close together, 4-28 in. long, 3-angled or winged at top. Leaves almost absent to longer than stem. Umbel usually compound once or more, rarely simple; bracts 2-3, lowest suberect, shorter to longer than the umbel. Spikelets digitate, 2-6 together, up to ½ in. long, compressed, 10-40 fld.; glumes 1-3 nerved, greenish or purplish; sta. 2-3; style short; nut ab. ½ length of glume, pale-brown.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. Yei River).

=C. flavidus= _Retz._

Short-lived annual; stems tufted, 2-8 in. long, obtusely 3-angled. Leaves longer than stem. Umbel very compound, yellow to blackish; bracts longer than umbel; sta. 1; nut white; otherwise as above.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

=C. podocarpus= _Boeck._

Glabrous herb; rhizome scaly; stems tufted, obtusely 3-angled, 10 in. long. Leaves ⅔ length of stem. Umbel simple; rays 2-4, ab. ½ in. long; bracts 3, lowest suberect, 4-8 in. long. Spikes of 3-7 spikelets, ebracteate; spikelets 2/5 in. long, 8-12 fld., purple mottled; glumes obtuse; sta. 3; style shorter than nut, which is ½ length of glume, broad ellipsoid, 3-angled, suddenly narrowed into a minute stalk, black.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

=C. sphærospermus= _Schrad._

Glabrous herb; rhizome woody, 2 in. long; stems 6-14 in. long, more or less sharply 3-angled at top. Leaves from ½ the length to (rarely) more than length of stems. Umbel simple or compound, 1-5 in. diam.; bracts varying from 1 in. to length in infl. Spikes of 3-8 digitate spikelets, straw-coloured or rich brown; spikelets ½ in. long, compressed, 10-30 fld.; sta. 3; style short, branches longer than the minute nut.

Bahr El Jebel (Sudd).

=C. flabelliformis= _Rottb._

Rhizome stout; stems 2-3 ft. long, tufted, rounded or angular at top. Leaves 0, except on early sterile shoots. Umbel usually compound, 4-12 in. diam.; primary rays 6 to numerous, subequal; bracts 8-12 subequal, longer than umbel; spikes whitish-yellow to rusty, of 2-15 digitate spikelets which are compressed and 10-20 fld.; glumes hard, shining, pointed; sta. 3; style short, branches long; nut ½ length of glume.

Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit); Fung Prov. (Fazoghli).

=C. dichromenæformis= _Kunth._ =var. major= _Boeck._

Rhizome woody; stems 12-30 in. long, almost flattened at top. Leaves nearly as long, up to ½ in. broad. Head of 12-34 spikelets; bracts 4-5, lowest up to 10 in. long; spikelets ½ in. long, flattened, straw- coloured, 12-20 fld.; glumes distant; sta. 3; styles shorter than nut, branches long; nut ⅔ length of glume, 3-angled, brown.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Kulenjo).

=C. Renschii= _Boeck._

Tall glabrous herb; stems up to 6 ft. high, 3-angled to 3-winged at top. Leaves up to 4 ft. by 1 in., 3-nerved. Umbel 8-24 in. diam., decompound; bracts 2 ft. long. Spikes abundant, green to red-brown, small, of 2-7 clustered spikelets which are 1/12 in. long, oblong, 3-6 fld.; glumes distichous, mucronate; sta. 2-3; style half the length and branches length of the nut which is ab. ½ length of glume.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land).

=C. Iria= _Linn._

Glabrous annual; stems tufted, 4-20 in. long. Leaves ab. as long as stem. Umbel usually compound, 2-20 in. diam.; rays often long; bracts longer than umbel. Spikes of 5-20 spikelets loosely spicate on a ⅓-2 in. long rhachis; spikelets slender, ab. ½ in. long, yellow or brown, 6-20 fld.; nut nearly length of glume, black; style short, branches shortly exserted.

Nubia; Kordofan Prov. (Obeid); Darfur Prov. (J. Barkin); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Bor).

=C. aristatus= _Rottb._

Glabrous annual; stems tufted, 1-7 in. long. Leaves up to length of stem. Umbel appearing simple (or 1 spike); rays 1-6, up to 3 in. long, lowest bract usually longer than umbel. Spikes ½ in. long, cylindric, of 5-40 spikelets, brown when ripe; spikelets up to ½ in. long, compressed, 6-30 fld.; glumes striate, ending in a conspicuous recurved bristle; sta. 1; nut ⅓ length of glume, brown; style shorter than nut, branches shortly exserted.

Kordofan Prov. (Abu Garad); Upper White Nile Prov. (Taufikia); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Bor).

=C. distans= _Linn. f._

Glabrous herb; rhizome stout; stems 1-3 ft. long. Leaves up to length of stem. Umbel compound, 8-12 in. diam., sometimes congested or scanty; bracts usually longer than umbel. Rhachis of spike ⅓-2 in. long; spikelets spicate, almost acicular, 10-12 fld., reddish; glumes distant; style shorter than nut, branches shortly exserted; nut ab. ½ length of glume, black.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Nabambisso River, Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

=C. eleusinoides= _Kunth._

Stems 1-3 ft. long, throwing out lateral shoots at base. Spikes 1 in. long dense cylindric; spikelets obliquely spreading, green or grey- brown, ½ in. long, ab. 10 fld.; glumes mucronate, approximate; otherwise as above.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Fung Prov. (Fazoghli).

=C. latifolius= _Poir._

Glabrous herb; stolons (runners) long; stem 2-3 ft. long, acutely 3-angled at top. Leaves ¾ length of stem, ¾ in. broad. Umbel compound, dense, secondary umbels corymbose; bracts longer than umbel. Spikes of 4-8 spikelets: spikelets ½ in. long, pallid or reddish, 8-16 fld.; glumes obtuse, imbricated; nut ½ length of glume, black.

Bahr El Jebel (Hillet El Nuer).

=C. pilosus= _Vahl._

Glabrous, except spike-rhachis which is minutely hairy; stem 12-30 in. long, acutely 3-angled at top. Leaves ¾ length of stem. Umbel usually compound; bracts several, lowest longer than umbel. Spikelets ½ in. long at right angles to the rhachis, pale reddish, 10-24 fld.; glumes obtuse, rather loose; nut 3/5 length of glume, black.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

=C. bulbosus= _Vahl._

Glabrous bulbed herb; stolons slender, ending in small bulb; stem 4-12 in. long, very slender. Leaves longer than stem, tapering. Umbel contracted, subcorymbose; bracts 3-6 overtopping umbel. Spikelets 4-6 to the spike, compressed, red; rhachilla winged; flowering glumes 8-26, obtuse, striate; nut ½ length of glume, black; style short, branches long.

Nubia; Red Sea Prov. (Wadi El Omari & Khor Tamanib).

The roots are used as flour in times of scarcity and eaten roasted or boiled.

=C. microbolbos= _C. B. Clarke._

Bulbed glabrous herb; stems 3 in. high, slender; stolons capillary, ending in minute bulbs. Leaves 6 in. long. Spikes 1 or 2 together, ped. ¼ in. long; bracts 2, longer than spike. Spikelets 3-5 per spike, ½ in. long, compressed red-brown, 24 fld.; glumes green-mucronate; sta. 3; style length of nut, branches long; nut ½ length of glume, brown.

Red Sea Prov. (coast-land to between 3,000-4,000 ft., Suakin).

=C. esculentus= _Linn._ SAAD—Arab.

Bulbed herb; stolons slender, ending in bulbs ½ in. diam., ringed by transverse lines; stems 6-24 in. long, 3-angled at top. Leaves up to ¾ length of stem. Umbel more or less compound, 3-12 in. diam.; bracts 3-5, ab. as long as umbel. Spikes of 4-30 spikelets which are ¼-¾ in. long, pale yellow to brown, 6-30 fld., rhachilla winged; glumes blunt, striate; style shorter than nut, branches long; nut ab. ½ length of glume.

Kordofan Prov.; Darfur Prov. (Kulme 3,600 ft.); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Kutshuk Ali’s Zariba); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

=C. articulatus= _Linn._

Glabrous herb, stolons hardening into long rhizomes; stems 3-6 ft. high, when dry showing joints ½-1½ in. apart. Leaves reduced to sheaths. Umbel usually compound, 1-8 in. diam.; bracts elliptic-lanceolate. Spikelets 3-4 to spike, or more by congestion of spikes into one, ⅓-1 in. long, 12-50 fld., straw-coloured to brown; glumes obtuse; style branches long; nut 3/5 length of glume, black.

White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Jebel.

=C. schimperianus= _Steud._ DIS & SID—Arab.

Glabrous herb; rhizome woody; stems 1-3 ft. long. Leaves under ⅓ length of stem. Umbel usually compound, 3-10 in. diam.; bracts 4-7. Spikes of 3-20 loosely arranged, often drooping, 12-24 fld. spikelets, which are ½-¾ in. long, compressed, red-brown; rhachilla winged, wings deciduous; glumes distant, obtuse; style branches long; nut ½ length of glume.

Nubia; Dongola Prov.; Berber Prov. (Atbara: Shallalat); Khartoum Prov. (Nile near J. Royan); Fung Prov.

=C. nubicus= _C. B. Clarke._

Glabrous herb; stolons hardening into rhizomes; stems up to 2 ft. long, 3-angled at top. Leaves 12 in. by ¼ in. Umbel compound, 5-8 in. diam. Spikelets numerous, rusty-red, up to 1 in. long, 20-30 fld., compressed; rhachilla wings ovate, deciduous; glumes acute, distant; style short, branches long; nut 2/5 length of glume, black. Bracts 3-4, longer than umbel.

Red Sea Prov. (21° N.L.).

=C. schweinfurthianus= _Boeck._

Tall scabrous herb; stems 1-3 fl. long, 3-angled. Leaves ½-⅔ length of stem. Umbel irregular, simple or compound primary rays up to 12 in. long; bracts few to many, according to number of rays equalling or overtopping the umbel. Spikes loose; spikelets 3-9 per spike, 1 in. long, 20 fld., straw-coloured, compressed; wings of rhachilla oblong, deciduous; glumes distant, apiculate; style short, branches long; nut ½ length of glume, black.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

=C. elatior= _Boeck._

Stem 30 in. high, stout, smooth. Umbel compound; rays up to 10 in. high; spikelets 1 in. long, 20-30 fld., suberect, otherwise as above.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

=C. gracilinux= _C. B. Clarke._

Glabrous herb; stems 2 ft. high, 3-angled at top; stolons numerous. Leaves up to 16 in. long. Umbel compound, 6-12 in. diam.; bracts overtopping umbel. Spikes loose with 5-11 spikelets, which are ⅔ in. long, compressed, 10-16 fld., whitish; wings of rhachilla elliptic- lanceolate; glumes subobtuse, close; nut 3/5 length of glume.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

=C. maculatus= _Boeck._ SEID—Arab.

Glabrous herb; stems 12-20 in. long, 3-angled at top, bulbous at base. Leaves nearly length of stem. Umbel compound, of 5-11 spikelets, which are ½ in. long, compressed, 20 fld., straw-coloured, usually purple- spotted; rhachilla wings narrow; glumes obtuse, close; styles shorter than nut, branches exserted.

Nubia; Berber Prov. (Mograt Island near Abu Hamad); Khartoum Prov.; White Nile Prov. (Khor Attar).

=C. rotundus= _Linn._

Glabrous herb; stems 8-24 in. long, bulbous at base, 3-angled at top. Leaves ⅔ length of stem. Umbel simple or compound, 1-8 in. diam.; rays long or short; bracts 3-4, overtopping umbel. Spikes loose; spikelets red-brown, ⅔ in. long and 8-30 fld., or 2 in. long and 50-60 fld.; rhachilla wings joining the pointed, closely placed glumes; style shorter than nut, branches long; nut ½ length of glume, dark brown.

Nubia; Red Sea Prov. (Suakin, Wadi El Omari, Wadi El Arab); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); Berber Prov. (Ben Naga, between Berber & Khartoum); Khartoum Prov. (North); Banks of the Blue Nile (Bunzaga); Kordofan Prov. (Obeid, Abu Haraza); White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas).

Used in certain dye preparations to impart perfume to the fabric. The rhizomes yield an essential oil which is used as a perfume. The fresh roots are diaphoretic and astringent; they are used for indigestion in children and in fevers.

=var. spadiceus= _Boeck._

Stem usually tall, scabrous at top. Spikelets strongly compressed, sometimes darker brown, shining.

Kordofan Prov.

=C. nuerensis= _Boeck._

Glabrous herb; stolons hardening into rhizome, 8 in. long; stems 8-20 in. long, 3-angled at top. Leaves ⅔ length of stem, ⅓ in. broad. Umbel compound, 6-8 in. diam. (sometimes reduced to a head); primary rays 3-7; bracts 3-5, 2-6 in. broad; bracts 3-5 overtopping umbel. Spikes loose overtopping umbel. Spikes of 3-5 red-brown to nearly black spikelets, which are 2/5 in. long by 1/12 in., 8-16 fld.; wings of rhachilla ovate- lanceolate; glumes obtuse, reddish-black on sides and 5-nerved, yellow- green on back; otherwise as above sp.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (near Nuer villages).

=C. Fenzelianus= _Steud._

Tall herb; stolons long, thick. Umbel open. Spikelets pale to dusky straw-coloured; otherwise as _C. rotundus_.

Nubia; Berber Prov. (Zeidab); Between Berber & Khartoum: Khartoum Prov.; Fung Prov.; Kordofan Prov. (J. Kuhn).

=C. radiatus= _Vahl._

Glabrous herb; rhizome 0; lateral shoots at base of stem; stem 6-24 in. long. Leaves ⅔ length of stem. Umbel up to 6-10 in. diam., but often contracted, sometimes into 1 dense head; bracts overtopping infl. Spikes digitate, 1 in. by ab. ½ in., almost sessile; spikelets 1/5-2/5 in. long, narrow, 10-36 fld., compressed, pale to brownish; wings of rhachilla oblong, persistent; glumes apiculate tightly imbricate; sta. 3; nut ½ length of glume; style ½ length of nut, branches short.

Nubia; Dongola; Fung Prov.; White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: Jur Ghattas & Wau River; Bongo: Addai).

=C. exaltatus= _Retz._

Stems up to 3-4 ft. high. Some spikes peduncled; spikelets larger, less crowded and more yellowish or reddish, but otherwise as above.

Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov. (Harun; Jongol’s Post); Kordofan Prov. (Sagattur); Upper White Nile Prov. (Tonga Island); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Kutshuk Ali’s Zariba).

=var. dives= _C. B. Clarke._

Umbel rigid. Spikes rigid, dense; ripe spikelets divaricate or reflexed, hard, often shining and yellowish.

Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Nabambisso River).

=C. Pethericki= _C. B. Clarke._

Very tall, stout herb. Umbel large, compound with large cylindric spikes; lowest bract very long, ⅔ in. broad. Spikelets nearly ½ in. long, 36 fld., pale yellowish-brown; glumes thin; otherwise as _C. exaltatus_.

Mongalla Prov. (Gigging, Mongalla & 7° 25′ N.L.).

=C. digitatus= _Roxb._

Glabrous herb; stem 2-6 ft. high, 3-angled at top. Leaves ⅔ length of stem. Umbel compound, 8-24 in. diam.; lowest bract longer than umbel. Spike 2 by 1 in.; spikelets many, at right angles to spike, ab. ½ in. long, narrow, 20 fld., yellowish-brown; wings of rhachilla caducous, lanceolate, yellow; glumes scarcely mucronate, yellow and brown; sta. 3.; nut ½ length of glume, black; style shorter than nut. Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land).

=C. auricomus= _Sieber._

Stem at top almost 3-winged; umbel not very large; otherwise as above.

Blue Nile Prov. (Khor Agalin at Doleib); Kordofan Prov. (Birket Kolli); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Ghaba Shambé; Bongo: Addai); Mongalla Prov. (Kenissa).

=var. minor= _C. B. Clarke._

Slender; umbels small; spikelets slender, red-brown.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma).

=C. Papyrus= _Linn._ =var. Antiquorum= _C. B. Clarke._ BURDI, DIS & BABIRUSA—Arab; BODUMOH—Zande; YELL—Nuer. The Papyrus Plant.

Plant up to 15 ft. high; rhizome woody; stems smooth with basal sheaths only. Leaves up to 1 in. by ⅓ in. on barren shoots. Umbels compound, up to 3 ft. diam.; primary rays up 30, up to 1 ft. long; bracts up to 7 in. long, reddish. Spikelets numerous sessile, ovate, ¼-⅓ in. long, compressed; bracts of secondary umbel 3, green, up to 2½ in. long. Spikes ab. 1 in. by ½ in. with 12-30 spreading spikelets; spikelets ⅓ long, brown; glumes ovate-oblong with a green median line; rhachilla wings yellow deciduous late; sta. 3; style length of nut; branches rather short; nut ½-3/5 length of glume, black.

White Nile and affluents; Bahr El Ghazal and affluents.

The slices of the stem, pressed together, were used by the ancient Egyptians as a writing material. Attempts have been made of recent years to utilise the plant for paper making and for fuel.

=C. cephalotes= _Vahl._

Stolons slender; stem 6-10 in. long, 3-angled. Leaves longer or shorter than stem. Head globose, ½ diam.; bracts 3-4; spikelets numerous, sessile, ovate, ¼-⅓ in. long, compressed, 20-30 fld.; rhachilla not winged; glumes cuspidate, imbricate, red-brown; sta. 2-3; nut oblong, narrowed into a long beak, style jointed on beak of nut, slender, entire or 2-3 toothed.

Bahr El Jebel (Sudd).

828 =Mariscus[6] coloratus= _Nees._ =var. macrocephala= _C. B. Clarke._

Glabrous herb; stolons 0; stems 6-14 in. long, 3-angled at top, thickened at base by brownish leaf sheaths. Leaves up to length of stem, weak. Spikes 5-6, large, in one head; bracts 3-4, spreading, lowest 3-7 in. long; spikelets ovate or lanc., acute, 2-6 fld., straw-coloured; glumes subacute, 13-15 ribbed, margins running into the elliptic wings of rhachilla; style shorter than nut, branches longish; nut ½ length of glume, black; sta. 2-3.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Makporru Hill); Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

=M. djurensis= _C. B. Clarke._