on the Genus Juncus of Linnceus. 305 



J. culmo nudo filiformi nutante, paniculd laterali. Sp. PI. 465. 



Leers 89. t. xiii./. 4. Huds. 149- Smith Spicileg. t. 3. 

 J. parvus, calamo supra paniculam compactam longius producto. 



Rail Syn. 432. 



A7igL Least Rush. Thread-form Rush. 



In irriguis alpinis, inque Anglia proecipufe ad ripas lacuum bore- 

 alium. 



Peren. July, August. 



Root creeping, horizontal, fibrous. Stem soft, generally a few, 

 rarely ten inches high, very slender, tapering towards the sum- 

 mit, frequently drooping, sheathed at the base with scales, 

 "which are light-brown, obtuse, remarkably awned. Panicle 

 from three- to eight-flowered, nearly simple, remarkable for 

 bursting from about the middle of the stem. Flowers sessile, 

 supported by a small bracte. Fruit peduncled. Calyx-leaflets 

 lanceolate, acute, very nearly equal ; keel three-nerved. Cap- 

 sule globose, about the length of the calyx. 



This plant has never been found in England, excepting on the 

 margin of the lakes in the North, being a similar situation to 

 that in which it is found on the Continent. Pursh states it to 

 be frequent in boggy mountain-meadows in North America. Its 

 diminutive size, and long slender summit above the panicle, suffi- 

 ciently mark its character; though in habit it approaches very 

 nearly to the two last described. Indeed, I anticipated a closer re- 

 semblance when I found three stamens to be common to both the 

 other soft Rushes conglomeratus and effusus; and 1 examined nume- 

 rous fresh specimens of ^/i/brwis, with the vicAv to discover the same 

 numerical structure, but could never observe it. The small awn at 

 the point of the radical sheaths appears to be an attempt towards 



the 



