340 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



all over. There are three ovules or many, anatropous, 

 erect. The capsule is one- to three-celled, loculicid- 

 ally three-valved, three- or many-seeded. The seeds 

 are erect, with a membranous testa. The endosperm 

 is dense and starchy. The embryo is straight. 



The flowers are wind-pollinated. The seeds are 

 wind-dispersed. 



There are no plants of economic importance. 

 The Rushes may serve to convert wet spongy land 

 into dry stable land. Along the coast maritime 

 species serve to protect the shore from coast erosion. 



Great Wood Rush (Luzula sylvatica). 



By Smith the Wood Rushes were included in a 

 genus Luciola, which he considered more correct, 

 etymologically, than Luzula, He remarked : " The 

 hairy heads of flowers, wet with dew, and sparkling 

 by moonlight, gave the elegant Italians an idea of 

 their luciola, or glow-worms, sometimes written 

 luzziola, but this is a provincial corruption. Hence, 

 however, John Bauhin got the name of gramen 

 luzulce, or glow-worm grass, for he never called it 

 Luzula, which would have been the same as actually 

 calling it glow-worm." A more recently adopted 

 generic name is Juncoides of Adanson, which has 

 precedence. 



This Woodrush is found in all parts of the British 

 Isles as far north as the Shetlands. In the 

 Highlands it is found at an altitude of 2300 ft., or 

 more. It occurs in Ireland and the Channel Islands. 



