FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS. 



47 



Family Juncaceae. Rush Family. Tlie rushes are limited to 7 

 genera, but contain over 200 species, a large part of which belong to 

 Jtmcus. They are of very wide dis- 

 tribution and very varied habitat, al- 

 though a majority, perhaps, may be 

 said to prefer wet or moist ground. 

 The plants may always be distinguished 

 from the grasses and sedges, to which 

 they bear a close external resemblance, 

 by the distinct perianth, which is, how- 

 ever, dry and chaffy in texture. The 

 ovary is also three-celled instead of 

 one-celled, as in those families. Rushes 

 have little or no economic value, even 

 for forage purposes; but in Holland the 

 stems of various rushes are extensively 

 used as winter coverings for newlv- 

 planted tulip and hyacinth beds. 



Family Stemonaceae. Stemona 

 Family. This is a small group, con- 

 taining one or two tropical genera and 

 a single monotypic genus, Croomla in the Southern United States. 

 More interest attaches to this plant from its extreme varity than from 

 its appea>'ance or structure; it is a low herb with a whorl of roundish 

 or oblong leaves at the summit of the stems, and a few small greenish 

 flowers. The plant has been found only in two or three localities in 

 Florida and Alabama. 



Family Melanthaceae. Bunch flower Family. This and the fol- 

 lowing three families are frequently united with the Liliaceae into one 

 large oroup, 'jut the differences of habit and floral structure are en- 

 tirely sufficient to warrant their separation. The Melanthaceae con- 

 tain about 36 genera and 140 species, of ver}^ widespread distribution. 

 They have usually thick tuberous roots or rootstocks, and spicate or 

 racemose flowers, the perianth of which is often persistent, adhering 

 to the capsule. They are all herbs, usually scapose in habit. In our 

 country the majority occur in the South, where the pine-barren 

 bocrs form their favorite haunts. Probably the most familiar examples 

 of this family are the wild hillebore ( Veratrum.) and the bellwort 

 ( Uoularla) the latter, unlike its relatives, having solitary, nodding, 



Fig. 41. 



tenuis. 



-Dooryard rush, Juncus 



