TTRXANDRIA MONOGYNIA, 403 



lo, spinoso ; capsulis sub- I ed, spiny ; capsules near 

 rotundis, mucronatis. | \y globular, mucronate. 

 Smith. Fl Brit. I. p. 324. 



Sp. pi a p. 204. Pursh,'l.p. 235, 



JRoof.s perennial, cespltose, forming very large tufts. Stem ^ — 3 

 feet hi^h, without leaves, hard, rigid, with a withering sheath at base; 

 the stems at base unite in fascicles tliat are somewhat distichous. 



Flowers in panicles, 2 — 3 inches lonj^, that appear lateral, but are 

 really terminal ; the stem dividing into a two leaved involucrum, the 

 exterior lonj^er, the interior shorter than the panicle, both very acute^ 

 pungent. Leaves of the calyx lanceolate, acute, rufous, with tlm 

 margins membrajiacoous, ihit 3 exterior longer, acuminate, with the 

 point reflected. Stamens very short. Germ superior. Stifle longer 

 than the stamens, 3 cleft. ^Stigmas gubuiate, glandular- Capsule 

 somewhat obovate, obtusely 3 angled, pointed with the style. Seed 

 angular. 



Grows in brackish marshes, where it covers extensive bodies of 

 land. 



Flowers April. 



Blade Bush.: 



3. Effusus. 



J. culmo nudo, stricto ; | Stem naked, strict ; 

 ))anicula laterali, effusa ; panicle lateral, effused ; 

 iloril)us oblongis. Sp. pi. | flowers oblong. 



2. p. :J05. 



Walt p. 124. Pursh, I. p. 2o6. 



Root fibrous, perennial, cespitose. forming very large tufts. Stem 

 erect, 3 feet iiigh. terete, soft, acute but not rigid, witii a persis- 

 tent mucronate sheath enveloping the base. Flowers in a dense, 

 corapoun4l panicle 1 — 3 inches long. Leaves af the calyx lanceolate, 

 acute, equal, with the midrib green, the margins white, membranace- 

 ous. Stamens shorter than the calyx. Slyte very short, 3 cleft. Stig^ 

 mas glamlular, longer than the calyx. Capsule 3 angled, turgid. 

 Seeds oblong, oblique, acute at each end. 



Grows iu wet soils ; occupies and almost covers rice fields as sooa 

 AS they are thrown (»ut of cultivation. 



Flowers April — May. Sofi rush—Vommon ruaJiM 



'f ^^ 



3. Setaceus. Rostock. 



J. culaio undo, lililbrml, j Stem naked, filiform, 

 nutiuitc ; iniihcllii late- nodding; iinibc! lateral, 



ruli, compo^jita, pauciflo- I coinpuund, few flowered j 



f' 



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