HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 79 



In the olden time, it was customary, at ceremonial enter- 

 tainments, to strew the floor with rushes. Chambers, in 

 the houses of the great, were formerly strewed in this 

 manner. As our ancestors rarely washed their floors, 

 disguises of uncleanness became necessary things. They 

 were, in subsequent times, formed into mats and chair- 

 bottoms ; but their use has been superseded by the know- 

 ledge of better materials. Our fishermen and labourers, 

 in many parts of the country, carefully peel the stalk, and 

 use the pith as a wick for their candles, or for the lamp. 

 Mr WHITE, in his Natural History of Selborne, has given 

 a long account of the manner of preparing them in Hamp- 

 shire ; and he recommends that two ribs of the rind should 

 be left to support the pith instead of one, as is the case 

 with those prepared for rush-lights. Made, as he directs, 

 these rushes give a good clear light, while watch-ligl ' 

 only render " darkness visible." 



* * Herb leafy. 



4. J. squarrosus, stem naked ; leaves numerous, radical, rigid, 

 linear, channelled ; panicle terminal, compound, with cymose 

 branches. Moss Rush. 



Hal. Moorish heathy ground, common. July. 7/ 



5. J. ccenosus, stem simple, leafy ; leaves linear, channelled ; 

 panicle cymose, terminal, longer than the bractea ; capsule obo- 

 vate, the length of the rather obtuse calyx. Mud Rush. 



Hob. Muddy places towards the sea. River sides from 

 the bridge upwards ; mouth of the rivulet at Goswick ; 

 coast beyond Goswick, Thomp. July, Aug. If. 



In our specimens, neither the calyx nor capsule are of the 

 dark-brown colour mentioned by SMITH ; and the cap- 

 sule, in the same plant, is sometimes as long as the calyx, 

 but more often rather longer. In these characters, then, 

 they approximate nearer to the J. compressus ; but the stem 

 inclines to triangular on the upper part, the leaves are 

 striated externally, and the panicle is longer than, and 

 not overtopped by the bractea, while the peculiar habitat 

 leaves no doubt concerning the species to which they 

 ovight to be referred. Dr HOOKER is surely right in con- 

 sidering J. compressus and canosus as varieties. 



6. J: bufonius, stem leafy ; leaves linear, angular, channelled 

 panicle forked, racemose, longer than the bracteas ; flowers soli- 



