THE FLOWERING PLANTS 
OF 
GREAT BRITAIN 
Order XCI. JUNCACE—RUSH TRIBE. 
PERIANTH 6-parted, usually chaffy, but sometimes coloured, as in Asphodel 
(Narthecium) ; stamens 6, inserted. at the bases of the segments, or sometimes 
3, inserted opposite the outer segments ; anthers opening inwards; ovary 
superior ; style solitary ; stigmas 3 or (in Asphodel) 1; capsule 3-valved, 
usually many-seeded. This is a tribe of plants growing on moist lands, 
having cylindrical or grassy leaves, and, except in Asphodel, brown flowers. 
The true rushes (Juncus) are social plants, often covering large moist districts ; 
many of them known in the coldest parts of the world, and a few in the 
tropics. The stems of some are used for making mats and the wicks of 
candles. With few exceptions, the species are perennials. 
The popular notion of the Rush tribe connects its members with the 
Grasses through the Sedges. A certain superficial resemblance may justify 
this, but the botanical tyro who uses the pocket-lens and pulls the inflores- 
cence carefully to pieces will soon be undeceived on that point. The flower 
of the Wood Rush, though minute, has all its parts corresponding closely 
with those of thé lilies, but in the Sedges and Grasses the perianth has com- 
pletely disappeared, and the stamens and pistils are enclosed in chaffy scales, 
called glumes. There are three British genera. 
1. RusH (Jéncus).—Perianth chaffy ; filaments smooth; stigmas 3 ; 
capsule 3-celled, 3-valved ; seeds numerous, minute, roughish ; leaves mostly 
round, rarely flat ; mostly perennials. Name from jungo, to join—the stems 
having been used as cordage. 
2. Woop Rusu (Lizula).—Perianth chaffy ; filaments smooth ; stigmas 
3; capsule 1-celled, 3-seeded ; all perennials. Name supposed to be from 
the Italian luciola, a glow-worm, because the heads of flowers sparkle when 
wet with dew-drops. 
3. Boca AspHODEL (Narthécium).—Perianth of 6 coloured sepals and 
petals; stamens woolly; stigma 1; capsule 3-celled; seeds numerous. 
Name from the Greek narthekion, a rod, apparently from the long straight 
raceme of flowers in some of the species. 
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