BOGS, MARSHES, WET PLACES— SUMMER 253 



species, has no true leaves. The panicle is looser than that of 

 J. communis, with fewer and larger flowers ; and it is never more 

 than two or tluree inches below the top of the stem. 



A few of the Rushes form a 

 group known collectively as the 

 Jointed Rushes, because their 

 cyUndrical or sHghtly-flattened, 

 hollow leaves are divided within 

 by transverse partitions of pith 

 which give them a jointed appear- 

 ance, especially when they are 

 dried. Two or three of the species 

 referred to are very common in 

 wet places. They are very similar 

 in general appearance, and one of 

 them — the Shining-fruited Jointed 

 Rush [Juncus lamprocarpus) is 

 selected for illustration. 



Another species is the little 

 pale-coloured Toad Rush (.7. 

 bufonis), which grows to a height 

 of only a few inches. It has 

 tufted stems that branch from 

 near the base ; and its flowers are 

 either soHtary or in clusters of 

 two or three. 



As regards the Sedges (order 

 Cyperacece), the species are so 

 numerous that it is impossible to 

 do them justice in a work of this 

 nature. 



Their stems are sohd, usually 

 more or less triangular, not 

 swollen at the nodes as in grasses ; 

 and the sheaths of the leaves 

 which surround the stems are not 



spHt. The flowers are in little green or brown spikelets that are 

 either sohtary at the top of the stem, or collected into a cluster, 

 spike, panicle, or umbel. Each spikelet is in the axil of a scaly or 

 leafy outer bract, and consists of several scales or glumes, each 

 with a single sessile flower in its axil. The flowers have no 



THE Shining-fruited Jointed Eush. 



