COMMON SEA RUSH 



207 



2 perianth-segments, which are as spiny and as long as the capsule, 

 which is oblong-acute. The dry perianth is regular. 



The plant is 4 ft. high. It flowers in August. Sea Rush is peren- 

 nial and propagated by seed. 



The stigma matures before the anthers, and self-pollination is thus 

 rendered impossible. As in the other species of the genus the flowers 

 are pollinated by the agency of the wind. There are 6 stamens, a short 

 style, 3 stigmas, with wart-like knobs all over. The flowers last for a 

 day and a half, the female condition 

 only a day. The flowering is inter- 

 mittent. 



The capsule splits when ripe, 

 and the seeds are numerous and 

 dispersed close to the parent plant, 

 this species growing in clumps 

 covering wide areas. 



The plant is a salt-lover, and 

 grows in saline soil, being at the 

 same time a sand plant, and ad- 

 dicted to sand soil. 



Sea Rush is liable to attack 

 by a fungus, Sclerotinia curreyana. 

 Rushes, maritime and inland, are 

 the resort of numerous Coleoptera, 

 e.g. Agonium micans, A. puellus, 

 Demetrius unipunctulatus, Quediits 

 semiteneus, Crepidodera transversa, 

 Cercus rufilabris, Telephones ovalis ; 

 Heteroptera, Tcratocoris Saundersi, 

 Mecomma ambulans, Cyrtorrhinns caricis, C. pygm&us', Homoptera, 

 Liburnia venosa, L. limbata, L. douglasi, Livia juncorum. 



Juncus, Pliny, is the Latin for rush. The second Latin name here 

 refers to the maritime habitat. 



The roots strike deep into the sand, and a clump forms a regular 

 network or matted mass, and is excellent for reclaiming shifting sands. 

 Hence it has been planted for coast protection with J. acutus, &c. 

 The stems are cut down when ripe, and dried like corn, and used 

 for bedding, fodder, &c. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



305. Juncus maritimus, Lam. Stem tall, erect, leaves terete, acute, 

 long, flowers in long lax raceme, perianth-segments as long as capsule. 



Photo. Messrs. Flatters & Garnet! 



COMMON SEA RUSH (Juncus maritimus, 

 Lam.) 



