on the Genus Juncus of Linnaeus. 299 
serving this, and the large, shining, roundish capsule and blunt 
calyx, the botanist will be at no loss to distinguish the species. 
Sir James E. Smith, Eng. Bot. l c., conjectures that Homer, 
in his Battle of the Frogs and Mice, had this Rush in view as 
the weapon with which to arm his imaginary champions. It is 
not so common in England as the next species, and is not found 
in any country further to the North. It is one of those useful - 
plants, which Providence has ordained to bind the loose sands of 
the shore together as a barrier to the ocean, 
2. JUNCUS MARITIMUs. 
Juncus culmo nudo pungente, paniculá laterali subproliferà, 
bracteâ spinosá, capsulá oblonga acuta longitudine calycis. 
J. culmo nudo, panicula terminali prolifera, involucro diphyllo 
spinoso, capsula oblonga acuta petalis equali, Rost. Mono- 
graph. 16. 
J. culmo nudo tereti, paniculà terminali prolifera, involucro di- 
phyllo spinoso erecto, capsulis oblongis. Flor. Brit. 375. Eng. 
Bot. xxiv. 1725. - | 
J. acutus, culmo nudo mucronato pungente, panicula involucrata 
laterali, capsula longitudine calycis. Lamarck Encycl. iii. p.253. 
Flor. Fran. iii. 163. ; 
J. acutus B. Sp. Pl. A64. Huds. 148. With. 346. Willd. Sp. Pl. 205. 
J. acutus maritimus Anglicus. Park.1193.7. Moris.s. viii. t. 10. 
SJ. 14. Raii Syn. 431. ! 
Angl. Sea Rusu. Lesser Sharp Sea Rush. English Sea Hard 
Rush. | 
In paludibus maritimis copiosè, praecedentis socius. 
Peren. August. 
Root fibrous, thick. Stem two feet or more high, leafless, erect, 
VOL. XII. ! 2 R glaucous, 
