LEBIDOSPERMA CARPIIOIDES, Bknth.

Mueller’s Sedge (Citehaceve).

The history of this species is interesting. Mueller, in the Fragmenta, IX.]). 27 (1875), placed this plant under L. striatum, R. Br. All the specimens prior to1878 labelled in Mueller’s handwriting are marked L. striatum, excepting one fromLake Alexandrian, South Australia , which is not mentioned by Benthn.m. Luehmannwas apparently aware that the plant was different from L. striatum, for the Moyston(tirampians) specimen (Sullivan, 1872) and the Port Lincoln one (Browne, 1874) areboth labelled L. carphaides, F. v. M., in his handwriting, and are both quoted byBentham, who supposed that this name had been adopted by Mueller, and credited himwith the species. The only published description is, however, that by Bentham in the1'lora Australiensis, VII., p. 400, 1878. lie gives the spikelets as containing onebarren and one perfect llower. Large spikelets on strong specimens may, however,contain two perfect dowers. The leaves are usually grooved on the inner side,commonly turn black at the tips, and sometimes have the end twisted as shown in theextreme case depicted in Fig. 9. Externally, the plant is somewhat similar toL. striatum, but this is an exclusively western species, larger and coarser, the spikeletsin oblong spikes instead of in short dense clusters, and each spikelet with two orthree barren dowers.

L. carph aides grows in West Australia , South Australia , and Victoria. Inthe Km/ it is given as from the south-west only of Victoria, but it also occurs in thenorth-west. The chief localities are—Glenelg, Portland Bay, Moyston (Grampians ),and the sources of the Avoca River.

Unless stock are starving, they usually leave the plant untouched. It has noknown economic value. The name Mueller’s Seda,e miyht be sui»s>ested for commonuse as an indication of its history.

plate xovm.

LEPI1)0SPEKMA CARPIIOIDES, Bkntu.

Mueller's Seuoe.

1. Spikelet with two flowers; 2. Spikelet with one fertile flower; 3. Flower with glumesremoved ; 4. Stamens ; 5. Dehiscing stamen cut transversely ; (i. Fruit ; 7. The same more magnifiedwithout the investing glumes, hut with the perianth scales at.the base ; 8. Fruit in section showing seedmud embryo ; 9. 'Tip of a twisted leaf.