Gahnia
(called after H. Gahn, a Swedish botanist of the eighteenth century). SYN. Psittacoschoenus. ORD. Cyperaceae. A genus embracing about a score species of stove or greenhouse, perennial herbs, mostly Australian, a few inhabiting New Zealand, New Caledonia, the Malayan Archipelago, South China, and the South Pacific Islands. Spikelets blackish or brown, often two-flowered; glumes many; hypogynous bristles none; stamens three to six; panicle ample and loose or narrow and spike-like. Nut reddish-fuscous, whitish, or black, ovoid, obovoid, or sub-fusiform. Leaves usually long, terete, with a long, subulate acumen. It is doubtful whether the plant here described is the true G. aspera. For culture, see Cyperus, on p. 422, Vol. I. G. aspera (rough). fl., spikelets whitish-yellow; inflorescence terminal. fr. reddish-yellow. l. bright green, channelled, wavy, lanceolate. Fiji, 1887. An ornamental plant, of Arundo-like habit.