52 ELEOCHARIS. 



[CLASS in. ORDER L 



envelopecl at the base in one or more membranous lanceolate sheathing 

 bracteas. Seed small, light-coloured, triangular, terminating in a 

 blunt dark-coloured point, and surrounded at the base with six or eight 

 long rough bristles. 



Habitat. In moist, shady situations ; not very common. In Kent, 

 Norfolk, and about London. It is more plentiful in Scotland, particu- 

 larly in the southern counties. 



Perennial ; flowering in June and July. 



This is a very distinct, handsome, and graceful species. 



GENUS X. ELEO'CHARIS. BROWN. Spike-rush. 

 Nat Ord. CY'PE RACEME. 



GEN. CHAR. Spike terminal, solitary. Ghimes of one valve, imbri- 

 cated on all sides, mostly all fertile. Bristles four to twelve, finely 

 toothed, rarely absent. Style dilated at the base, and jointed 

 upon the germen. Stigmas two or three. Fruit lenticular or tri- 

 angular, crowned by the indurated base of the style. Stem erect, 

 simple, sheathed at the base. Name from "Ao?, a marsh, and 

 %flMf&>> to delight ; on account of the marshy si/nations in which 

 they grow. 



1. E. palus'tris, Br. (Fig. 76.) creeping Spike-rush. Stem round, 

 emitting from its base long underground stems, stigmas two, fruit 

 nearly plain on one side, convex on the other, shorter than the four 

 bristles at its base. 



English Flora, vol. i. p. 64. Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 30. 

 Scir'pus palus'tris, Linn. English Botany, 1. 131. Helio'charis palus'- 

 tris, Lindley, Synopsis, p. 280. 



Root fibrous. Underground stems long, emitting roots at various 

 intervals, and clusters of three or more erect, smooth, naked flowering 

 stems, from six to eighteen inches high, tapering abruptly at the ex- 

 tremity, terminated by an ovate oblong acute spike, and surrounded 

 at the base with close thin membranous sheaths, the lower external 

 ones black and shining, the upper a reddish-purple colour. Glumes 

 various in size, outer ones the smallest, keeled, brown, with a pale 

 membranous edge. Stigmas two. Fruit pale, smooth, attenuated at 

 the base, crowned by the dilated indurated base of the style, nearly 

 plain on one side, convex on the other, shorter than the four spiny 

 bristles, which are flattened and dilated at the base. 



Habitat. Common on the borders of lakes, ditches, and in wet 

 marshy ground. 



Perennial ; flowering in June and July. 



2. E. multicau'lis, Sm. (Fig. 77.) many-stalked Spike-rush. Stem 



