def params(cla):
    """
    From the command line argument starting with '--' get the parameter name
    and a list of its values.

    ``cla`` -- the command line argument with the preceeding `--` stripped.
    """
    tokens = cla.split()
    vname = tokens.pop(0)
    if '-' in vname:
        vname, i0 = vname.replace('-', ' ').split()
        i0 = int(i0)
    else:
        i0 = 0
    try:
        vals = map(int, tokens)
    except ValueError:
        try:
            vals = map(float, tokens)
        except ValueError:
            vals = map(None, tokens)
    return vname, vals, i0
