399 



cence, and a regular persistent perianth of 6 similar scale-like pieces; 



stamens 6, or rarely 3, with introrse anthers ; 



ovary 1-3-celled, producing a 3-valved, 3- or 



many-seeded, or sometimes a 1 -celled and, 



by suppression, 1-seeded capsule : embryo 



minute, in fleshy horny perisperni ; radicle 



inferior. Illustrative Genera : Luzula, DC. ; 



Juncus, DC. ; Nartliedum, Mcehr. 



Affinities, &c. With Juncaceae are included by 

 Lindley a number of genera which are regarded 

 as doubtful, or established as separate Orders by 

 some writers, such as Astelieae, a group of woolly- 

 leaved epiphytic plants of the southern hemi- 

 sphere, and Kingiese, plants with a stem like 

 Xanthorrhcea and a 1-seeded fruit, and some Ternary flower of 



others. The genus Juncus (Rush) connects the Luzula. 



Order to Liliacese, from which the chief difference lies in the habit, the 

 small embryo, and the glumaceous character of the segments of both 

 circle^ of the perianth ; Narthecium connects them ; from Xyridaceae 

 the latter character divides them. Xerotes approaches the Palms in the 

 character of the flowers ; and this is associated with Kinqia, which has 

 an arborescent habit. The scaly perianth connects them with Cyperacese, 

 Restiacere standing between and differing from Juncaceoa in trifling 

 points, which will be noted under that Order. 



Distribution. A considerable group, the members of which are natives 

 chiefly of cold or temperate regions ; some occur in tropical Australia. 



Qualities and Uses. Without important properties in most cases. 

 The leaves of Rushes (species of Juncus} are largely used for making 

 mats, chair-bottoms, &c. ; and the parenchyma or " pith " of the cylin- 

 drical leaves and stems was much used until recently for making the 

 wicks of rushlights ; this substance has a beautiful microscopic structure, 

 being formed of regular steiliform cells. 



DESVAUXIACE^: are little, sedge-like herbs, with glumaceous flowers 

 in a terminal spathe ; glumes 1 or 2 ; palese 0, or represented by scales 

 parallel with the glumes; ovaries usually several, sometimes consoli- 

 dated, each with a pendulous ovule; stamens 1, or rarely 2; anthers 

 1-celled ; seeds perispermic ; embryo terminal. These little plants, chiefly 

 natives of Australia, are of small importance, except as representing one 

 of the types of the Glumaceous condition of Monocotyledons. They differ 

 from Cyperaceae in having several 1-celled ovaries more or less coherent, 

 or, if a solitary ovary, it is 1-carpellary ; the anthers also are 1-celled, and 

 the embryo terminal, as in Restiacene ; but they have only one stamen, a 

 1-celled ovary, and a utricular fruit bursting longitudinally. Genera : 

 Centrolepis, Labill. ; Gmmardia, Gaudich. 



ERIOCAULACE^E are aquatic or marsh-herbs, stemless or short- 

 stemmed, with a tuft of fibrous roots, and a cluster of linear, often loosely 

 cellular, grass-like leaves, and naked scapes sheathed at the base, bearing 



