388 JUNCE^E. [Jrxrrs. 



stigmas 3 filiform papillose all over ; ovules 3 basilar, or many on 3 pari- 

 etal or axile placentas, erect, anatropous. Capsule 1-3-celled, loculicidally 

 3-valved, 3-many-seeded. Seeds erect, testa membranous often lax at one 

 or both eiids, albumen dense; embryo next the hiluni, usually small. 

 DISTUIB. Chiefly temp, and Arctic ; genera 4-5, species about 130. 

 AFFINITIES. With Liliacece. PROPERTIES unimportant. 



Glabrous. Ovules many, parietal or axile 1. Juncus. 



More or less pilose. Ovules 3, basal 2. Luzula. 



i. JUN'CUS, L. RUSH. 



Glabrous herbs. Outer perianth-segments keeled or midrib thickened. 

 Stamens 6, rarely 3. Ovary 3-rarely 1-celled ; ovules many, placentas axile, 

 rarely parietal. Capsule completely or incompletely 3-celled. Seeds 

 many; embryo minute. DISTRIB. Of the Order ; species 100. ETYM. 

 jungo, from their use in tying. 



SECTION 1. Rootstock perennial, usually creeping. Stems not septate 

 within (nor appearing as if jointed when dry), terete, rarely compressed. 

 * Leaves all reduced to sheaths. Cymes wholly lateral, many-flowered ; flowers 

 not clustered. Testa not produced at either end. 



1. J. communis, Meyer ; stems soft, pith continuous, perianth -seg- 

 ments lanceolate exceeding the obovoid retuse capsule, stamens 3. 



Moist places ; ascends to 2,400 ft. in the Highlands ; fl. July- Aug. Tvfts 

 circular, densely matted. Stems 1-3 ft., sometimes J.in. diam., green, very 

 finely striate. Cymes very compound, variable in form and size. Perianth, 

 A-4 in. Stamens rarely 6. Seeds minute, yellow-brown. DISTRIB. Europe, 

 N. Africa, temp. Asia and America. 



VAR. 1, effu'sus, L. (sp.); cymes usually lax effuse, perianth olive-green, 

 anthers oblong, capsule not mucronate. VAR. 2, cony lorn eratus, L. (sp.) ; 

 cymes usually dense subglobose, perianth tinged with brown, anthers longer 

 linear, capsule mucronate. 



2. J. plau'cus, Ehr. ; stems rigid glaucous striate, pith interrupted, 

 perianth-segments narrow-lanceolate about equalling the ovoid mucronate 

 capsule, stamens 6. 



Wet, usually stiff soils, from Aberdeen and Lanark southwards, and in Ire- 

 land ; ascends to 1,200 ft. in N. England ; fl. July- Aug. Habit of J. com- 

 munis, but not so tall, and stems deeply grooved. Cymes effuse, suberect. 

 Perw.nth brown. DISTRIB. Europe, N. Africa, Siberia. 



Sub-sp. ? DIFFU'SUS, Hoppe (sp. ) ; stems softer less glaucous and striate, pith 

 continuous, cyme elongate, capsule more obovoid mucronate, seeds always 

 imperfect. Wet pastures, not common, very rare in Scotland and Ireland. 

 A doubtful plant ; perhaps a hybrid between J. glaucus and e/usus. 



3. J.balticus, Willd.; stems rigid, pith continuous, perianth-seg- 

 ments ovate-lanceolate about equalling the ovoid abruptly mucronate cap- 

 sule, stamens 3. J. arcticus, Hook, not Willd. 



Sandy sea-shores, rarely by inland lakes, from Forfar and Kincardine north- 

 wards ; fl. July. Rootstock creeping, not tufted. .S'fcwjfew, 1-2 ft.,^*- A in. 

 diam., pale green, scarcely striate. Cymes small, corymbose, suberect, 

 few-flowered. Perianth about ^ in., dark brown, midrib pale. Anthers 



