CLASS YI. ORDKR I.] , JUNCUS. 493 



acutely pointed, and thickly clothed with a soft woolliness, Anther 

 oblong, of two cells, bursting laterally, of a fine scarlet colour, becom- 

 ing brown and twisted. Style tapering. Stigmas obtuse, three angled. 

 Capsule oblong, tapering to a point, obtusely triangular, three valved, 

 three celled, longer than the perianth, which surrounds it. Seedt 

 numerous, small, oblong, erect, with a thin membranous coat, tapering 

 at both ends into an elongated point. 



Habitat. Humid places on moors and mountains ; frequent. 



Perennial ; flowering in July and August. 



This very pretty little plant, like many others growing in similar 

 damp situations, has been accused of causing the rot in sheep, but 

 the supposition is unfounded in reason or fact unless the flourishing 

 growth of this and similar plants be taken as a warning of the effects 

 that may be produced by allowing sheep to remain too long in such 

 situations as those in which the plants grow. It was also formerly 

 supposed to produce softness in the bones of cattle ; but this notion 

 founded equally upon false principles is untenable, nor is there we 

 believe now any credence generally given to it. 



GENUS XX. JUN'CUS. LINN. Rush. 



Nat. Ord. JUN'CE.E. Jess. 



GEN. CHAR. Perianth of six pieces, glumaceous. Stamens six (rarely 

 three). Capsule three celled, three valved, having the dissepiments 

 in their middle. Seeds numerous, attached to the dissepiments. 

 Name from jungo, to join ; the leaves and stems of some of the 

 species having been used as cordage. 



* Barren stems, resembling leaves, sheathed below, and enveloping the 

 base of the flowering stems. Inflorescence a terminal corymbose 

 panicle, with spreading or aggregate flowers. Seeds appendiculated 

 at each end. 



1. J. mari'timus, Smith. (Fig. 560.) Lesser Sharp Sea Rush. Stem 

 naked, barren stems, round, long, pungent ; outer bractea round and 

 pungent above ; panicle large, very compound ; segments of the peri- 

 anth lanceolate, the external acute, the internal obtuse, entire ; capsule 

 elliptical, mucronate, as long as the perianth. 



English Botany, t 1725. English Flora, vol. ii. p. 159. Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 165. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 273. J. acutus, 

 var. /3. Linn. 



Root of dense tufts of long fibres. Stems nearly erect, from three to 

 four feet high, round, smooth, finely striated, gradually tapering up- 

 wards, of a glaucous green, naked, except at the base being enveloped 

 in the thin dilated leafy sheaths, of one or two barren stem-like leaves, 

 mostly of a dark shining purplish colour, as are the membranous scales 

 VOL. i. 3 T 



