292 JUNCACE2E. 



along with, the large bright green leaves. These capsules are 

 gathered to be sold to the druggist ; and from them a powerful 

 medicine is prepared, which is very useful in cases of gout and 

 rheumatic affections. The Meadow Saffron grows abundantly 

 in fields between Eipon and Aldfield, and in similar pastures in 

 Swaledale ; and Edward reports an equal abundance around 

 Warwick. Cattle avoid this plant, and the French evidently 

 suppose that it poisons dogs, as they call it " Mort aux chiens." 



The Scottish Asphodel (Tofieldia palustris), is the one repre- 

 sentative of its family ; it grows four or five inches high, and 

 its small yellowish flowers are arranged in an oval head. We 

 have no specimens of it. 



The Hush order, with its three families of Eushes, Wood 

 Hushes, and Asphodel, comes next. Few account the Rushes 

 an interesting family, but we have a good opinion of them on 

 our Yorkshire moors. When land is forming on boggy ground 

 the Eush is a great assistance. Wherever it gets hold the earth 

 becomes consolidated round it, and when you get into a swamp, 

 and do not know where to step, fearing that the inviting moss 

 will sink under your feet, you have only to descry a cluster of 

 Eushes, and you know that there is a safe footing ; or, as the 

 country people say, " there is a bottom." 



The common Eush (Jiincus conglomeratus), with its dense 

 head of flowers diverging from the stalk, is familiar to all ; and 

 the Soft Eush (J. effusus), with its branched panicle, is scarcely 

 less frequent. I have found these on wet ground wherever I 

 have been. 



Of the Eushes with leafy stems I have three species. 



The Moss Eush (J. squarrosus), I found at Brimham Eocks. 

 It has no leaf till very near the base of the stem, and its 

 branched cluster of flowers have bright yellow stamens. It has 

 numerous channelled leaves growing in tufts from the root. 



The Sharp-flowered Jointed Eush (J. acutiflorus), has joints 

 in the stem, and grows in woody places. It is a larger plant 

 than the last. 



