271 



EssENTiAi- Chauacter. — Flowcrs hermaphrodite or unisexual. Calyx and corolla 

 forming an inferior, 6-parted, more or less glumaceous perianthium. Stamens 6, inserted 

 into the base of the segments ; sometimes ?., and then opposite the calyx. Anthers 2-celled. 

 Ovarium 1- or 3-celled, 1- or many-seeded, or 1-celled and 3-seeded. Style 1. Stigmas 

 generally 3, sometimes only 1. Fruit capsular, with 3 valves, which have the dissepiment 

 in their middle, sometimes destitute of valves, and 1-seeded by abortion. Seeds with a 

 testa, which is neither black nor crustaceous; albumen firm, fleshy, or cartilaginous; 

 embryo witliin it. R. Br. (1810.) — Herbaceous plants, with fascicled or fibrous roots. 

 Leaves fistular, or flat and channelled with parallel veins. Inflorescence often more or less 

 capitate. Flmcers generally brown or green. 



Affin'ities. This order, in its most genuine state, may be said to 

 stand between Petaloideous and Glumaceous Monocotyledons, agreeing with 

 the former in the floral leaves having assumed the verticillate state necessary 

 to constitute a perianthium, and with the latter in their texture. But while a 

 glumaceous confounded calyx and corolla are the characteristic of one part 

 of the order, another part, approaching Asphodelese, assumes a petaloid state; 

 so that little is finally left to separate Juncese from the latter, except the 

 difference in the testa of their seed. Mr. Brown remarks that Junceae are 

 intermediate between Restiaceee and Asphodelese, differing from the former 

 in having an included embryo, a radicle usually centripetal, and the stamens, 

 when there are only 3, opposite the sepals ; from Asphodeleae in the integu- 

 ment of the seed, in the texture of the perianthium, and in habit. Prodr. 

 258. Agardh combines Restiacese and Junceae. Aph. 157. 



From Palms they are distinguished, independently of their habit, by the 

 texture of the perianthium, by the constant tendency to produce more than 

 1 ovulum in each cell, and by the embryo never being remote from the hilum. 

 Juncus is an instance of a monocotyledonous plant having distinct pith. 

 " Xerotes, in the structure and appearance of its flowers, and in the texture of 

 albumen, has a considerable resemblance to Palms, but it wants the peculiar 

 characters of the seed, and also the habit of that rejuarkable order. Flagella- 

 ria differs from Xerotes chiefly in its pericarpium, and in the form and relation 

 of its embryo to the albumen, which is also of a different texture. In all these 

 respects it approaches to Cyperaceae, with some of whose genera it has even 

 a certain resemblance in habit." Brown in Flinders, 578. From Melan- 

 thaceae they are known by their concrete carpella, and anthers turned in- 

 wards. 



Geography. Chiefly found in the colder parts of the world, some 

 even in the coldest, two existing in the ungenial climate of Melville Island. 

 Several, however, are known in the tropics. Eight are mentioned as inha- 

 biting the tropical parts of New Holland alone. According to Humboldt 

 {Diss. Geogr. 43), they constitute ^ly of the flowering plants in the equi- 

 noctial zone ; in the temperate zone, y'^ ; in the frozen zone, ttj » in North 

 America, -^i^ ; in France, -^^. In Sicily, according to Presl, they do not 

 form more than y-^g. 



Properties. Only employed for mechanical purposes, as the Rush 

 and others for making the bottoms of chairs, &c. ; the pith of the same 

 for the wick of common candles. Juncus effusus is cultivated in Japan for 

 making floor-mats. Thunh. The leaves of Flagellaria are said to be astrin- 

 gent and vulnerary. 



Examples. Juncus, Luzula, Dasypogon. 



