BY J. U. MAIDEN AND K. BETCIIE. 913 



bract erect, leafy stem-like and continuing the stem, straight or 

 cur\ed, 3 to 5, rarely G cm. long, the upper bracts shorter than 

 the flowers, glumaceous, pale-coloured. Flowers 2^ to 3 mm. 

 long, pale. Perianth-segments of equal length, or the inner ones 

 distinctly shorter, lanceolate, with broad membranous margins, 

 greenish-yellow on the back, the outer ones acute, the inner ones 

 rather obtuse (but often acutf^ by the involute margins). Stamens 

 3, scarcely half as long as the perianth-lobes; filaments white, 

 linear ; anthers yellow, longer than the filaments. Capsule 

 obovate, obtusely trigonous, obtuse, shorter than the perianth, 

 shining, 3'ellowish, 3-septate. Seeds small, ferrugineous, on the 

 base and apex, longer or shorter apiculate, regularly striped 

 between the slightly prominent ribs. 



A well-marked species, easily distinguished from all other 

 species of the Junci genuini by the thread-like stems and b}' the 

 contracted inflorescence. It is most nearly allied to J. vaginatus, 

 and may at first sight be taken for a very depauperate form of it; 

 but the small fruits, shorter than the perianth, separate it from 

 that species. 



The technical terms used by Prof. Buchenau, of Bremen, differ 

 so much from the terminology employed by Bentham, that we 

 have thought it desirable to give a somewhat abbreviated trans- 

 lation of his description, more in conformity with the descriptions 

 used in the ' Flora Australiensis '; but in fairness to the author 

 of the species, we here add the original description kindly sent 

 by him in MS. and not previously published : — 



JuNCUS FiLicAULis, Fr. Buch., n.sp. 



Juncus e subgeneri J. genuinorum. . 



Perennis, dense caespitosus, pallidus. Radices filiformes, diam. 

 usque 0-8 mm., paliide fuscae. Rhizoma horizontale, internodiis 

 brevissimis. Caules erecti, tenues, diam. 0-5, usque 0'9 mm., 

 teretes, valleculati, usque ad inflorescentiam 8 usque 15, cum 

 bractea infima 10 usque 20 cm. alti, medulla interrupts asterisci- 

 formi repleti. Folia basilaria cataphyllina, angusta, opaca, pallida, 

 dorso striata, apice mucronata, supremum 3 usque 5 cm. longum. 



