4 BicKNELL : Ferns and flowering plants of Nantucket 



JUNCACEAE 



JUNCUS EFFUSUS L. 



Common ; in great luxuriance and of unusual size in Tom 

 Never's Swamp* Inflorescence just appearing June 7 ; mostly- 

 dried in August. 



The cyme of this rush, like that of a number of our species, 

 varies from open and diffuse to compact (van compactus Lej. & 

 Cour.), but its form is too unstable to be made the basis of any 

 true distinction. Better characters for the subdivision of this 

 species are to be found in the size and form of the perianth-parts 

 and capsule. On Nantucket very typical examples of the close- 

 flowered state are frequent, the inflorescence sometimes forming a 



dense glomerule not over i cm. in diameter; but the two states 



of the plant pass readily into each other and the close, subglobose 

 head of the one may be seen opening out into the loose cyme of 

 the other even among the clustered stems of the same tuft. 



* JuNcus balticus Willd. 



I 



Sandy levels in the marshes along the '* Creeks " ; sparingly 

 below the ^' Cliff." Nearly in flower June 7 ; cyme mostly dried 

 by August 



Note. — Junciis filiformis L. is given in Mrs. Owen's catalogue 

 as common, but it seems evident that some other species was mis- 

 taken for it. 



« 



JUNCUS BUFONIUS L. 



Common on sandy pond shores, low roadsides, and wet places 

 generally. In flower from early June until the end of September 

 or later. 



JuNCus Gerardi Lois. 



Abundant, forming a large part of the vegetation of the level 

 salt marshes. In full flower in June ; inflorescence dried in August. 



JUNCUS TENUIS Willd. 



Common and variable, presenting a number of distinct- appear- 

 ing forms ranging from low and densely tufted (6-12 cm. high) 

 with congested cymes 5-10 mm. long, to tall and lax (3-5 dm. 

 high) with elongated, branched inflorescence 6-13 cm. long. In- 

 florescence just appearing June 7. 



