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Manual of the New Zealand Flora.

9. Cladium, P. Browne

9. Cladium, P. Browne.

Perennial herbs. Stems stout or slender, terete or compressed, sometimes leafy throughout, sometimes at the base only, or the leaves reduced to sheathing scales. Leaves terete or compressed, more rarely vertically flattened and equitant at the base. Inflorescence paniculate. Spikelets numerous, rarely few, 1–3-or rarely 4–6-flowered, the lowest flower always perfect and fruit-bearing. Glumes imbricate all round, 1–4 outer empty, smaller than the succeeding flowering ones. Hypogynous bristles usually wanting. Stamens 3. Style long, linear; base often dilated but continuous with the nut; style-branches 3, rarely 2. Nut ovoid or oblong, terete or obscurely trigonous or tricostate, smooth, crowned by the adnate base of the style.

Species between 40 and 50, widely distributed, but more plentiful in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern. Of the 10 species found in New Zealand, 6 extend to Australia and Tasmania, 3 of them being also found in the Pacific islands or eastern Asia, the remaining 4 are endemic.

A. Vincentia. Spikelets with 2–4 perfect flowers. Nut stipitate, triquetrous, narrowed upwards into a long cuspidate beak.
Tall, 2–5 ft. Stems and leaves flattened, the latter ½–1 in. broad. Panicle very large, lax, drooping 1. C. Sinclairii.
B. Baumea. Spikelets with 1 or rarely 2 perfect flowers. Nut sessile, often tumid at the apex, not narrowed into a cuspidate beak.
* Spikelets usually 2–3-flowered, 1 or sometimes 2 of the flowers perfecting fruit.
Stems and leaves flattened, ¼–½ in. broad. Panicle 6–12 in., narrow. Nut ovoid, trigonous 2, C. complanatum.
Stems and leaves stout, terete, transversely septate. Panicle very large and broad, drooping. Nut obovoid, trigonous 3. C. articulatum.
Stems and leaves slender, terete, not septate. Panicle narrow, erect, 3–10 in. long, interrupted; bracts spathaceous. Nut reddish-yellow, trigonous 4. C. glomeratum.
Stems and leaves slender, terete, not septate. Panicle narrow, 10–18 in.; branches drooping. Nut pale 5. C. Huttoni.page 785
** Spikelets 1-or rarely 2-flowered, never more than one flower perfecting fruit.
Stems and leaves slender, terete. Panicle 2–6 in. long, stiff, dense; bracts small. Nut small, oblong-orbicular 6. C. teretifolium.
Stems very slender, terete. Leaf solitary and long, or reduced to sheathing scales. Panicle 6–18 in. long, slender. Nut ovoid, smooth; tip large, tumid 7. C. Gunnii.
Stems terete. Leaves reduced to sheathing scales. Panicle short, ½–¾ in. long. Nut obtusely trigonous, tip small, puberulousz 8. C. junceum.
Stems stout, tetragonous. Leaves like the stems, short, often reduced to sheathing scales. Panicle contracted into a spike ⅓–½ in. long. Hypogynous bristles present. 9. C. Vauthiera.
Stems filiform. Leaves reduced to sheathing scales. Panicle short, ½–¾ in. long; spikelets 3–7. Nut with a persistent style-base as long as itself 10. C. capiilaceum.
1.

C. Sinclairii, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 305.—Stems tall, leafy, quite flat, smooth, 2–5 ft. high, ¼ in. diam., forming large clumps. Leaves 2–4 ft. long, distichous and equitant at the base, acuminate, quite flat. ½–1 in. broad, pale-green, smooth, striate; margins thin, even. Panicle large, terminal, nodding, excessively branched, 9–12 in. long or more; bracts sheathing, 2-edged; branches drooping. Spikelets innumerable, rich dark red-brown, fascicled, ⅙ in. long, 2–3-flowered, the lower flower usually alone fertile. Glumes usually 5, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate or almost awned, minutely scabrid-pubescent, 2 or 3 outer empty. Hypogynous bristles wanting. Stamens 3, elongating after flowering. Style-branches 3. Nut small, red-brown, fusiform, trigonous, conspicuously narrowed at the base, and also upwards into a triquetrous minutely scabrid beak. C. gahnioides, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi. (1884) 340. Vincentia anceps, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 276. V. gladiata, Boeck. in Linncea, xxxviii. (1874) 250.

North Island: From the North Cape southwards to Taupo and Hawke's Bay, not uncommon on cliffs, bank-sides, &c. Sea-level to 2000 ft. October–January.

A handsome species, remarkable for the broad flat leaves. When out of flower it might easily be mistaken for an iridaceous plant. Mr. Colenso's C. guhnioides is absolutely undistinguishable from the type.

2.

C. complanatum, Berggr. in Minnesk. Fisiog. Sallsk. Lund. (1877) 23, t. 6, f. 1–5.—Stems tall, rather stout, compressed and 2-edged, smooth, finely striate, 2–4 ft. high, ¼ in. diam. at the base. Leaves about the length of the stem, distichous and equitant at the base, narrow-ensiforrn, acuminate, flat or slightly convex, ¼–½ in. broad, pale-green, smooth, page 786striate; margins even, not scabrid. Panicle long and narrow, 6–12 in., much, branched; branches fascicled, erect; bracts sheathing, with ciliate margins. Spikelets numerous, chestnut-brown, ⅙–⅕ in. long, ovate-oblong, 2–3-flowered, 1 or 2 of the flowers fertile. Glumes usually 5, ovate, acuminate, striate; margins ciliate; 2 or 3 outer empty. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut almost sessile, ovoid, trigonous, puberulous, pale-chestnut, narrowed upwards into a rather stout pyramidal beak.

North Island: Auckland—Ohaeawai and Taheke, Berggren! Puhipuhi Forest, Kirk! Maungatapere, Carse! September–November.

Apparently a very local plant, not yet found outside the Bay of Islands and Whangarei Counties.

3.

C. articulatum, R. Br. Prodr. 237.—Stems tall and stout, terete, transversely septate, 3–6 ft. high. Leaves long, almost equalling the stems, terete, the transverse septa usually very distinct; sheaths large and long, pale; tip subulate, acute, pungent. Panicle large, lax, terminal, much branched, drooping, 9–18 in. long; branches numerous, closely placed; bracts sheathing, the lowest with a terete septate lamina ½–1½ in. long. Spikelets excessively numerous, rich red-brown, ⅙ in. long, 2–4-flowered, but usually only one flower is fertile. Glumes 4–7, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, keeled, membranous, puberulous, the 2 outer empty. Stamens 3. Style - branches 3. Nut broadly obovoid, trigonous with the angles thick and corky, red-brown; beak short, umbonate.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 276; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 304; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 403. Baumea loculata, Boeck. in Linnœa, xxxviii. (1874) 243. Gahnia articulata, F. Muell. Second Census Austral Pl. 216.

North Island: Margins of lakes and ponds from the North Cape to Taupo and Hawke's Bay, not uncommon. Sea-level to 1800 ft. November–January.

Also in Australia, New Caledonia, and the New Hebrides. Small states sometimes have the stems and leaves obscurely septate.

4.

C. glomeratum, R. Br. Prodr. 237.—Stolons creeping, clothed with pale striated scales. Stems tufted, terete and rush-like, slender, rather soft, 1–3 ft. high. Leaves few from the base of the stem, long, terete, with acute subulate tips. Panicle contracted, 3–10 in. long; lower branches distant, usually long and narrow, erect; upper closer together, shorter and broader; primary bracts large and sheathing, almost spathaceous, reddish-brown. Spikelets numerous, fascicled, red-brown, ⅙–⅕ in. long, ovate-oblong, 2–3-flowered, 1 or rarely 2 of the flowers fertile. Glumes usually 5, ovate, acuminate, membranous, striated; margins ciliate; 2–3 outer ones empty. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut elliptic-oblong when mature, obtusely trigonous, smooth and polished, reddish or reddish-yellow; tip tumid, acute, pubescent.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 275; Fl. Tasm. ii. 94; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 304; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 404. Schœnus rubiginosus, Forst. Prodr. n. 493. Fuirena rubiginosa, Spreng. Fl. Hal. Mant. i. 29; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 271; Raoul, Choix, 40. Baumea rubiginosa, Boeck. in Linnæa, xxxviii. (1874) 241.

page 787

North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands: Swampy places, margins of lakes, &c., plentiful in the North Island, less common in the South Island. Sea-level to 2000 ft. November–January.

Best distinguished by the narrow interrupted panicle, broad spa[unclear: t]haceous bracts, and 2–3-flowered spikelets. It extends to Australia and Tasmania, the Malay Archipelago, and northwards to China and Japan.

5.

C. Huttoni, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. ix. (1877) 551.—Stems tufted, slender, terete, rather wiry, striate, 3–5 ft. high. Leaves few towards the base of the stem, long, terete, striate; tips subulate, acute. Panicle elongated, rather lax, drooping, 10–18 in. long; lower branches remote, solitary or fascicled, 3–6 in. long or more; bracts large and sheathing, membranous, acuminate. Spikelets numerous, fascicled, brown, ⅛–⅙ in. long, 2–5-flowered, rarely more than 2 of the flowers fertile. Glumes 4–7, ovate, acuminate, membranous, striated; margins ciliate. Stamens 3 or rarely 2. Style-branches 3. Nut small, oblong, obtusely trigonous, smooth when mature, pale; beak very small.

North Island: Auckland—Whangape, Waikare, Waihi, and other lakes in the Middle Waikato, Kirk! T. F. C.; Lake Tikitapu, Kirk! Lake Taupo, Kirk. Sea-level to 1600 ft, December–February.

Very close to C. glomeratum, but distinguished by the larger size, longer panicle with drooping branches, smaller many-flowered spikelets, and smaller paler nut.

6.

C. teretifolium, R. Br. Prodr. 237.—Stems densely tufted, terete or slightly compressed, rush-like, firm, striate, 1–3 ft. high. Leaves few at the base of the stem, long, terete except towards the sharp subulate tip, which is often obscurely 3–4 angled; sheaths rather loose. Panicle oblong, 2–6 in. long, much branched, dense; lower branches closely placed, not distant as in C. glomeratum; bracts short. Spikelets very numerous, fascicled, dark-brown, ⅙ in. long, 1-or rarely 2-flowered, but in the latter case the upper flower is sterile. Glumes ovate, acuminate or awned, membranous, ciliate or almost glabrous, the 2 or 3 outer empty. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut very small, oblong-orbicular, not trigonous, corky, conspicuously corrugated; beak very minute, smooth.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 276; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 304; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 406.

North Island: Abundant in swamps from the North Cape to Hawke's Bay and Taranaki. South Island: Aorere Valley, Kirk! near Westport, Townson! Hokitika, Kirk! Canterbury, Armstrong; Southern Alps, Sinclair and Haast (Handbook). Sea-level to 2000 ft. November–January.

This has the habit and general appearance of C. glomeratum, but the stems and leaves are firmer, the panicle shorter and much more dense, bracts smaller, spikelets usually 1-flowered, and nut very different. It is also found in eastern Australia and Tasmania.

page 788
7.

C. Gunnii, Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 95, t. 148b.—Stems densely tufted, rush-like, very slender, terete, rigid and wiry, 9 in. to 3 ft. high. Leaves sometimes wholly reduced to sheathing scales at the base of the stem, but usually 1 long terete stem-like leaf with 2–3 sheaths below it; tip subulate, pungent; sheaths long, purplish-red. Panicle elongate, narrow, interrupted, 6–18 in. long; branches remote, slender, erect, the lowest sometimes 6 in. long in large specimens, in small ones reduced to 1 in.; bracts closely sheathing, with a short erect lamina. Spikelets not fascicled, distinct, sessile, 1-flowered. Glumes usually 3, lanceolate, acuminate, the 2 lowest empty; the uppermost fertile, longer and narrower than the others, and spreading in fruit; margins involute. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut pedicelled, ovoid or oblong-ovoid, smooth and shining when mature. 3-ribbed when young, tip large and tumid, pale-yellow with dark base and tip.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 304; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 407; Berggr. in Minnesk. Fisiog. Sallsk. Lund. (1877) 24, t. 6, f. 6–11. C. laxiflorum, Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 95, t. 148a. Lampocarya tenax. Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 277.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island: From the North Cape southwards, not uncommon. Sea-level to 2500 ft. December–February.

Also in eastern Australia and Tasmania. In fruit the margins of the upper part of the flowering glume become strongly involute, firmly enclosing the 3 persistent stamens, which remain attached to the pedicel of the ripe nut. The nut is thus frequently detained swinging from the spikelet long after it has separated from the point of attachment.

8.

C. junceum, R. Br. Prodr. 237.—Rhizome stout, woody, creeping, clothed with pale-brown scales. Stems tufted, rigid, erect, terete, rush-like, 1–2 ft. high. Leaves reduced to 1 long and closely appressed sheath with a minute vertically flattened lamina, below which are 1 or 2 much shorter sheaths. Panicle short, spike-like, sparingly branched, ½–1½ in. long; bract at the base very small. Spikelets red-brown, ⅙ in. long, 1–2-flowered, the lower flower alone fertile. Glumes 4–5, oblong-ovate, acute, membranous, keeled, puberulous, the 2 or 3 outer empty. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut oblong-ovoid, obscurely trigonous, dark-brown, surface rough; beak small, tumid, puberulous.—Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 95; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 305; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 408. Lepidosperma striatum, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 279 (not of R. Br.). L. Colensoi, Boeck. in Linnœa, xxxviii. (1874) 328.

North and South Islands: From the North Cape to the Bluff, not uncommon, especially in the North Island, often in brackish-water swamps.' Sea-level to 2000 ft. November–January.

Also throughout the greater part of Australia and in New Caledonia.

9.

C. Vauthiera, C. B. Clarke, MS.—Rhizome short, stout, creeping. Stems densely tufted, rather stout, conspicuously page 7894-angled, smooth, wiry, rigid, 9–18 in. high. Leaves 1 or 2 like the stems, 2–10 in. long, sometimes reduced to sheathing scales. Panicle contracted into a dense oblong spike-like head ⅓–½ in. long, subtended by a rigid sheathing bract terminated by a subulate erect point. Spikelets few, densely compacted, ⅙ in. long, 1-flowered. Glumes 5–6, ovate - lanceolate, acute or acuminate, coriaceous, puberulous, the terminal one subtending the flower, the remainder all empty. Hypogynous scales 6, small, white, triangular, connate into a 6-lobed cup. Stamens 3. Stylebranches 3. Nut broadly oblong, obtusely trigonous, smooth, redbrown; beak short, ovoid-conic, pubescent.—Vauthiera australis, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 107, t. 20; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 276; Raoul, Choix, 40. Lepidosperma australe, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 279. L. tetragonum, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 307 (not of Labill).

North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Not uncommon throughout. Sea-level to 2000 ft. November–January.

This differs from Lepidosperma, to which it was referred by Hooker, in always wanting the sterile flower below the fruit-bearing one. I have followed-Mr. Clarke's suggestion in placing it in Cladium, notwithstanding the presence of hypogynous bristles. It is endemic in New Zealand.

10.

C. Capillaceum, C. B. Clarke, MS.—Rhizome short, creeping. Stems densely tufted, very slender, filiform, wiry, terete, finely striate, 9–18 in. high. Leaves reduced to a single closely appressed purplish-red sheath, usually with a very minute erect scale-like lamina at the tip. Panicle terminal, very small, slender, ½–¾ in. long, of from 3 to 7 spikelets. Spikelets narrow, obscurely distichous, ⅛–⅙ in. long 1-flowered. Glumes usually 5, ovate-lanceolate, awned, membranous, the 3 outer empty. Stamens 3. Stylebranches 3. Nut oblong-ovoid, 3-ribbed, pale, smooth, crowned by the long and narrow pubescent style-base, which is as long as the nut itself.—Chætospora capillacea, Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 81, t. 141a (not of Nees). C. capillaris, F. Muell. Fragm. Phyt. Austral. ix. 34. Elynanthus capillaceus, Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 377. Schœnus capillaris, F. Muell. Second Census Austral. Pl. 215. S. tenuis, Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. i. ed. ii. (1871) 94.

North Island: From the North Cape southwards, not uncommon. South Island: Near Westport, Townson! Sea-level to 2000 ft. December–February.

Also found in Victoria and Tasmania. The narrow elongated persistent style-base gives the nut a different; appearance to that of any other New Zealand species.