726 JUNCACEA. 
or grass-like herbs, rhizomatous or with tufted or fibrous roots. 
Leaves with parallel veins, fistular or more or less flattened and 
grooved. lowers regular (jig. 1097). Perianth inferior, 6- 
partite (jig. 1097), scale-like or coriaceous, greenish or brown, 
persistent. Stamens 6 (fig. 1097), or rarely 3, perigynous ; anthers 
introrse, 2-celled. Ovary superior (fig. 1097), 1—38-celled ; style 
1 (fig. 1097), stigmas 3 (fig. 1097) or 1. Fruita loculicidal cap-. 
sule, 3-celled, 3-valved, and with 1 or many seeds in each cell; 
rarely 1-celled, 1-seeded, and indehiscent ; embryo very minute, 
in fleshy or horny albumen (fig. 1098) ; radicle inferior. 
Distribution and Numbers.—A few are found in tropical 
regions, but the mass of the order inhabit cold and temperate 
climates. Illustrative Genera:—Juncus, DC.; Luzula, DC. 
There are about 200 species. 
Properties and Uses.—Their medicinal properties are unim- 
portant, although some have a reputation as anthelmintics and 
Fic. 1097. Fie. 1098. 
Fig. 1097. Flower of a species of Wood-rush (Zuzula), having an inferior 
perianth with 6 divisions, 6 stamens, and a superior ovary with 1 style 
and 3 stigmas. Fig. 1098. Vertical section of the seed of the same. 
diuretics. The pale cellular tissue at the base of some of the 
leaves of certain species is occasionally eaten. The chief use, 
however, to which the plants of this order are applied, is in 
making floor mats, and the bottoms of chairs, &c. The leaves 
of the species of Juncus are employed for these purposes. The 
internal cellular substance of the fistular leaves of Junci, which 
is commonly called the pith, is employed for the wicks of 
rush-lights. In China, a decoction of this cellular matter is also 
much used as a cooling medicine in febrile affections. It is 
likewise employed in the manufacture of sun-hats, resembling 
those made in India from Aschynomene aspera, but they are 
not so durable as the Sola or Shola hats of Calcutta. (See 
LE schynomene. ) 
Cohort 4. Pontederales.— Flowers hermaphrodite, in spikes, 
panicles, or heads. Perianth of 2 segments or 6 in two 
whorls, all petaloid. Style simple. Fruit capsular ; placen- 
tation axile. Seeds with abundant mealy or fleshy albumen ; 
