296 Mr. J. E. Bicueno’s Observations 
botanists. That which they have denominated the leaves of the 
true Junci, beginning with glaucus and ending with filiformis, I 
have regarded as barren stems, and for these reasons :—the spe- 
cies which are most nearly allied to them, having leaves, produce 
them from a membranous integument sheathing the base of the 
stem, as in J. acutus and maritimus. They are generall y indeed seta- 
ceous, channelled, and of a totally different appearance from the 
culm which they accompany. Examples may be found in their 
congeners J. bulbosus of Linnæus, squarrosus, and bufonius; and in 
many plants more remotely allied, such as man y of the Eriophora, 
Scheni and Scirpi. Of the last genus, some of the species pro- 
duce leaves constantly, as Scirpus fluitans, acicularis, setaceus, &c.: 
others sparingly, as cæspitosus; and others none at all, as palus- 
tris and multicaulis. But the manner in which the leaves are de- 
veloped in Juncus trifidus and filiformis, shows in a satisfactory 
manner that the scales and the awns at the bottom of the stem 
of J. glaucus, and the other leafless species, are of the same na- 
ture as those in the plants just named. "The scales, which are | 
first produced at the base of the stem of J. trifidus, are awnless. 
As the plant advances the new scales become awned, and after- 
wards the awns of the following scales are successively enlarged, 
until at last a complete leaf is developed. The J. filiformis pro- 
duces awns of the same peculiar nature; but they are seldom 
elongated into leaves. A similar structure is present in some of 
the Scirpi. The Nardus stricta, and many others of the Grasses, 
show at first, in the development of their leaves, the same unsuc- 
cessful attempts. | | 
Linnæus and his successors have described the panicle of 
J. acutus and maritimus as terminal, accom panied by a two-leaved, 
spinous, involucre; while they have called the panicle of J. glaucus, 
effusus, conglomeratus, and filiformis, lateral, This involves their 
descrip- 
