248 



JUNCACEAE 



Flowers inserted singly on the racemose branches of the panicle, distinctly separated to some- 

 what crowded but never truly capitate ; stems usually slender and rigid ; sheaths bladeless 

 except nos. 6 and 10. 

 Flowers many to numerous, in panicles or compound panicles. 



Flowers large (2 lines long or more); perianth segments scarious-margined; capsule 

 oblong-ovate. 



Flowers dark brown; perianth segments with deep purple margins 3. J. leseurii. 



Flowers mostly greenish; perianth segments with whitish margins or only faintly 



purplish. 

 Sheaths quite bladeless. 



Perianth greenish or dark, the bractlets scarious; common, widely distributed. 



4. J. balticux. 



Perianth and braetlets eoncolorous; S. Cal 5. J. tcxtilis. 



Sheaths bearing scape-like blades 6. J. mcxieanus. 



Flowers small (less than 1 line long) ; perianth segments not scarious-margined; capsule 

 obovate or subglobose. 



Stamens 6; capsule broadly subglobose, obtuse, apiculate 7. J. patens. 



Stamens 3; capsule narrow, clavate, obovate, obtuse or retuse 8. J. effusus. 



Flowers few (1 to 3) ; low alpine plants. 



Inner sheaths bristle-tipped; capsule retuse ; plants M> to IVj feet high.. 9. J . drummondii. 

 Inner sheaths blade-bearing; capsule acute; plants % foot high or less 10. J. pam/i. 



B. Inflorescence terminal; involucral bract not a continuation of the stem (or if so 

 conspicuously channeled along the upper side). 



1. LOW DWARF ANNUALS WITH FIBROUS ROOTS. 



Stamens 6; flowers secund, remote; stems branching from the base; leaves cauline. 



Plants 4 to 10 inches high; capsule oblong 11. J. bufonius. 



Plants l 1 /^ to 2 inches high; capsule elliptic 12. J. sphaerocarpus. 



Stamens 3 ; flowers in small heads ; stems short with several scape-like peduncles ; leaves mostly 

 basal; plants 1 to 3 inches high; capsule ovate, apiculate 13. J. triformis. 



2. TALLER PERENNIALS; ROOTSTOCKS MOSTLY STOUT AND CREEPING. 



a. Leaves not transversely ribbed, usually flat. 

 Stems naked; flowers solitary in a diffuse (rarely compact) panicle; leaves very fine, with 



ligules 14. J. tennis. 



Stems more or less leafy; flowers capitate or clustered; leaves flat or grass-like. 

 Stems low, mostly equaling the leaves; ligules none; styles usually short. 



Involucral bract short; heads usually solitary; perianth equaling the capsule; segments 



brown-margined 15. J. falcatus. 



Involucral bract elongated ; heads 3 to 6 ; perianth shorter than the capsule ; segments 



broadly white margined 16. J. obtusatus. 



Stems taller, exceeding the leaves; heads 2 to 6 or many; styles long exsertcd. 

 Ligules present; leaves narrow. 



Anthers red-brown; leaves channeled 17. J. canaliculatus. 



Anthers white; leaves flat 18. J. longistylis. 



Ligules absent; leaves broad , 19. J. latifolius. 



b. Leaves transversely ribbed by internal septa. 



Leaves narrow, terete or sub-terete, not equitant; ligules and septations conspicuous; stems 

 usually slender. 



Early leaves capillary and floating 20. J. supiniformis. 



Leaves all erect, not capillary or floating. 

 Heads large (except, no. 22). 

 Perianth dark colored. 



Heads usually few or solitary; perianth segments moderately pliable. 

 Very slender mostly low grass-like plants; heads very dark. 



Heads solitary, wholly very dark brown; capsule obovate, obtuse; styles 



included; high montane 21. J. mrrtensianus. 



Heads usually two or more, dark brown with whitish or scarious bractlets at 



base; capsule oblong, acutish; styles exserted 22. J. nevadensis. 



Tall plants with less slender stems; heads densely many-flowered; perianth 



dark brown; capsule very dark; coast valleys 23. J. bolanderi. 



Heads numerous in a dense or capitate cluster; perianth segments lanceolate, 



light brown, subspinescent or very rigid 24. J. torreyi. 



Perianth segments pale and scarious, often obtuse 25. J. chlorocephulus. 



Heads small, numerous, in large compound panicles; plants very tall and slender. 



Stems slender, smooth 26. J. dubius. 



Stems stouter, markedly rugulose 27. J. rugulosu-s. 



Leaves equitant, usually flattened; septations inconspicuous; ligules usually inconspicuous or 

 absent; stems rather stout, ancipital. 



JEPSON, FLORA OF CALIFORNIA, voL 1, pp. 193-248, March 17, 1922. 



