i ee ie 
= 
RUSH FAMILY. 385 
8. Juncus bufénius L. Toad Rush. (Fig. 926.) 
Juncus bufontus L. Sp. Pl. 328. 1753. 
Plant branching from the base, annual, erect, sel- 
dom exceeding S/ in height, the stems in large plants 
with 1 or 2 leaves below the inflorescence; leaf-blade 
flat, 4 ’/—'%4’’ wide, in low plants often much narrower 
and filiform-involute; inflorescence about one-half as 
high as the plant, with blade-bearing leaves at the 
lower nodes; flowers inserted singly on its branches, 
in one form fasciculate; perianth-parts 2’/-32’’ long, 
lanceolate, acuminate, equal; stamens usually 6, 
sometimes 3, seldom half as long as the perianth; 
anthers shorter than the filaments; capsule about two- 
thirds as long as the perianth; narrowly oblong, ob- 
tuse, mucronate, 3-celled; seed broadly oblong, with 
straight tips, %4’/-4’’ long, minutely reticulate in 
30-40 longitudinal rows, the areolae broader than long. 
A cosmopolitan species, occurring throughout North 
America,except the extreme north, and frequenting dried- 
up poois, borders of streams and roadsides in clayey soil. 
g. Juncus trifidus L. Highland Rush. (Fig. 927.) 
Juncus trifidus ¥,. Sp. Pl. 326. 1753. 
Densely tufted, 4/-12/ high; stems closely set on a 
stout rootstock, erect, about 1(’’ thick; basal leaves 
reduced to almost bladeless sheaths, the uppermost 
with a rudimentary blade and fimbriate auricles; stem 
leaf 1, inserted near the inflorescence, with a narrower 
slender, flat or involute blade; inflorescence a cluster 
/ of 1-3 flowers, the lowest subtending bract similar to 
the stem leaf, the succeeding one much smaller or 
wanting; perianth dark brown, 14 ’/-134’’ long; sta- 
mens 6; anthers about as long as the filaments; capsule 
equalling the perianth, coriaceous, 3-celled, obovoid 
with a conspicuously mucronate-aristate top; seeds 
few, narrowly obovoid, acute at the base, irregularly 
angled, minutely striate both longitudinally and trans- 
versely. 
Greenland and Labrador, south on the higher moun- 
tains of New England and New York to Sam’s Point, 
N. Y. Also in northern Europe and Asia. 
10. Juncus Gerardi Lois. Black-grass. (Fig. 928.) 
Juncus Gerardi Lois. Journ. de Bot. 2: 284. 1809. 
Tufted, 8-28’ high, with creeping rootstocks. 
Basal leaves with rather loosely clasping auriculate 
sheaths, the long blades flat, or when dry invyolute; 1 
or 2 cauline leaves usually present, similar to the 
basal; inflorescence paniculate, sometimes exceeded 
by its lowest bract; panicle erect, strict or slightly 
spreading; perianth 1//-14’’ long, its parts oblong, 
obtuse, with green midrib and broad dark brown 
margins, straw-colored in age; stamens 6, barely ex- 
ceeded by the perianth; anthers much longer than 
the filaments; capsule one-fourth to one-half longer 
than the perianth, obovoid, mucronate, dark brown, 
shining, 3-celled; seed dark brown, obovate, acute at 
base, broadly obtuse and often depressed at the sum- 
mit, marked by 12-16 conspicuous ribs, the interven- 
ing spaces cross-lined. 
On salt meadows, Gulf of St. Lawrence to Florida; rare 
in western New York and the vicinity of the Great Lakes. 
Occurs also on the northwest coast, and in Europe. 
