494 JUNCUS. tCLASS VI. ORDER I. 



external of these. Barren stems long, round, thin, wiry, tapering up- 

 wards into a hard sharp point. Injlorescence a large terminal panicle, 

 much divided, its branches somewhat compressed, erect, of unequal 

 lengths, the principal branches bearing subcymose clusters of from 

 four to eight flowers. Bractea various, two at the base of the panicle 

 much the largest, terminating in a round pungent point, the external 

 one much the largest, and generally longer than the inflorescence, 

 the base dilated, thin, and sheathing, and at each division of the panicle 

 are two or more lanceolate membranous striated ones, the keel termi- 

 nating in a point. Perianth of six pieces, lanceolate, the three external 

 ones acutely keeled, terminating in a point, green, with membranous 

 margins, the internal ones three ribbed at the base, obtusely pointed 

 and rather shorter than the others. Stamens shorter than the perianth, 

 Filaments shorter than the oblong anthers yellow, of two cells, bursting 

 laterally. Style very short, with three spreading feathery stigmas. 

 Capsule elliptical, obtusely triangular, as long as the perianth, termi- 

 nated in a sharp point, three celled, three angled. Seeds numerous, 

 ovate, invested with a loose membranous covering, elongated at each 

 end. 



Habitat. — Salt marshes in various parts of England, but not common. 

 St Andrew's, Isle of Arran, and the Coast of Ayrshire, Scotland. 

 Kingstown, Bullock, near Cork, and various other places in Ireland. 



Perennial ; flowering in August. 



2. J. acu'tus, Linn. (Fig. 561.) Great Sharp Sea Rush. Stem 

 naked, barren stems, long, round, pungent ; outer bractea round and 

 pungent above ; panicle large, very compound, conglobate ; segments 

 of the perianth lanceolate, the inner ones with an ovate obtuse emar- 

 ginate point; capsule roundish, ovate, acuminate, half as long again 

 as the perianth. 



English Botany, t. 1614. — English Flora, vol. ii. p. 159. — Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 165. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 273. 



This species is nearly allied to the former, from which it diff'ers in 

 being a larger stouter plant, not unfrequently growing from seven to 

 eight feet high, but from four to six is its more common size. The 

 •panicle is larger, more compound, but more compact, and conglo- 

 borated, the perianth has the three outer segments lanceolate, acute, 

 obtusely carinated, with a green keel, the inner ones lanceolate, ovate, 

 with an obtuse membranous point, more or less deeply notched, and 

 only about half as long as the capsule, which is of a fine deep brown 

 shining colour, roundish, ovate, with an acuminated point. 



Habitat. — Sandy sea shores, especially in the South and West of 

 England ; Wicklow and Acklow, Ireland, and mostly grows with the 

 former, but much less common. 



Perennial; flowering in July. 



Both these species are found as frequent, or more so, especially 



