192 



JUNCACEjE. 



[Endogens. 



being remote from the hilum. Juncus is an instance of a monoeotyledonous plant 

 having distinct pith. " Xerotes, in the structure and appearance of its flowers, and in 

 the texture of albumen, has a considerable resemblance to Palms, but it wants the pecu- 

 liar characters of the seed, aud also the habit of that remarkable Order."— Brown in 



Flinders, 578. . ,\. 



Chiefly found in the colder parts of the world, some even in the coldest, two existing 

 in the ungenial climate of Melville Island. Several, however, are known in the tropics. 

 Eight are mentioned as inhabiting the tropical parts of New Holland alone. According 

 to Humboldt they constitute ^ of the flowering plants in the equinoctial zone ; m the 

 temperate zone, ^ ; in the frozen zone ■& ; in North America, ^ ; in France, ^. In 

 Sicily, according to Presl, they do not form more than ^. 



Only employed for mechanical purposes, as the Rush and others for making the bot- 

 toms of chairs, &c. ; the pith of the same for the wick of common candles. One species 

 is cultivated in Japan like Rice, entirely for making floor-mats.— Thunb. The blanched 

 portion of the base of the inner leaves of some Rushes, and of Astelia alpina, a sedgy 

 plant which tows on the sand-hills of the coast of Tasmanuia, and has the mature leaves 

 an inch wide," and of a deep green, are eatable, and of a nutty flavour. The flowers 

 resemble those of Rushes. They grow in clusters, on a stem as flat and broad as the 

 leaves.— Backhouse. The roots of Luzula campestris, and several Rushes, have a popu- 

 lar reputation as diuretics, and are used as such in the north of Europe and China. The 

 herbage of Narthecium ossifragum was once regarded as a vulnerary. Susum, a Java 

 plant, supposed to be near Xerotes, has anthelmintic roots employed in veterinary 

 practice. Dr. J. Hooker observes, that in some species of this Order the outer mem- 

 brane of the seeds forms with water a transparent jelly similar to what is seen on the 

 moistened grains of some Composite plants. 



GENERA. 



Luzula, DC. 



Luciola, Smith. 

 Prionium, K. Mey. 

 Juncus, DC. 

 Distichia, Nees. 



Rostkovia, Desv. 



Marsippospermum, 



Desv. 

 Narthecium, Moehr. 



Abama, A dans. 



Cephaloxys, Drsv. 

 Susum, Bl. 

 Xerotes, R. Br. 

 Lomandra, lab. 

 Astelia, Sol. 



Hamelinia, A. Rich 



? FiinJcia,V>' . 



Hanguana, Bl. 

 Kingia, R. Br. 

 Kaxteria, R. Br. 

 Calectasia R. Br. 



Numbers. Gen. 13. Sp. 200. 



Position. 



Liliacece. 

 -Juncace^;. — Orontiacese. 

 Cypcracem. 



AMUTIo.VAL GENERA. 



? Goudotia, Dene. 

 Saxo-Fridericia, Schomb. 



Rapatea, AM. lseenlS7 



Spathanthus. Dem. f ° ee P 

 Hamelinia, Ach. Rich, near Astelia. 



Adolphe Brongniart and Dr. Hooker regard Astelia as the type of a distinct 

 Natural Order, Astelie/E. — Flora Antarch, ii. 357. 







