192 



JUNCACE^. 



[Endogens, 



being remote fi'om the hilum. Juncus is an instance of a monocotyledonous plant 

 having distinct pith. " Xerotes, m the stinicture and appearance of its flowers, and in 

 the texture of albumen, has a considerable resemblance to Palms, but it wants the pecu- 

 liar characters of the seed, and also the habit of that remarkable Order." — Brown in 

 Flinders, 578. 



Chiefly found in the colder parts of the world, some even in the coldest, two existing 

 in the ungenial climate of Melville Island. Sevei'al, however, are known in the tropics. 

 Eight are mentioned as inhabitmg the tropical parts of New Holland alone. According 

 to Humboldt they constitute ^i^ of the flowering plants in the equmoctial zone ; in the 

 temperate zone, -^ ; in the frozen zone ^V 5 "^ North Amei'ica, y^^ ; in France, -gJg-. In 

 Sicih-, according to Presl, they do not form more than ^^. 



Only employed for mechanical purposes, as the Rush and others for making the bot- 

 toms of chau-s, «&c. ; the pith of the same for the wick of common candles. One species 

 is cultivated in Japan hke Rice, entirely for making floor-mats. — TJmnb. The blanched 

 portion of the base of the inner leaves of some Rushes, and of Asteha alpina, a sedgy 

 plant, which grows on the sand-hills of the coast of Tasmannia, and has the mature leaves 

 an inch wide, and of a deep green, are eatable, and of a nutty flavour. The flowers 

 resemble those of Rushes. They grow in clusters, on a stem as flat and broad as the 

 leaves. — Baclchouse. The roots of Luzula campestris, and several Rushes, have a popu- 

 lar reputation as diuretics, and are used as such in the north of Europe and China. The 

 herbage of Narthecium ossifragum was once regarded as a Aailnerary. Susum, a Java 

 plant, supposed to be near Xerotes, has anthelmintic roots employed in vetermary 

 practice. Dr. J. Hooker observes, that in some species of tliis Order the outer mem- 

 brane of the seeds forms with water a transparent jelly similar to what is seen on the 

 moistened grains of some Composite plants. 



GENERA. 



Luzula, DC. 



Luciola, Smith. 

 Prionium, E. Mey. 

 Juncus, DC. 

 Distichia, Nees. 



Rostkovia, Desv. 



Marsippospernium , 



Desv. 

 Narthecium, Moehr. 



Abama, Adans. 



Cephaloxys, Desv. 

 Susum, BL 

 Xerotes, R. Br. 

 Lomandra, Lab. 

 Astelia, Sol. 



Hamelinia, A. Rich. 



? Funkia, W. 



Hatiguana, Bl. 

 Kingia, R. Br. 

 Baxteria, R. Br. 



Numbers. Gen. 13. Sp. 200. 



POSITION.- 



Liliacece. 

 -JuNCACEiE. — Orontiacese. 



Cyperacece. 



