JUNCACEjE 287 



Juncus squarrosus L. Heath Rush. 



Stem rigid, 8-12 inches high, with a terminal compound panicle. 

 Flowers usually quite distinct. Perianth-segments rather broad, 

 shining brown, with broad scarious borders. Capsule trigonous, 

 barely longer than the perianth. Leaves nearly all radical, numer- 

 ous, usually not half the length of the stem, very narrow, stiff, but 

 spreading. 



Moors and damp heaths from sea-level in England to the Alpine 

 region of Switzerland, often in great colonies. July, August. 



Distribution. Central and Northern Europe, and Northern Asia. 

 Also as a mountain plant in Southern Europe. British. 



Juncus alpinus Vill. 



Stems i-ij feet, slender, erect, leafy, jointed, usually cylindrical 

 like the leaves. Leaf-sheaths sharply keeled. Cyme with erect 

 branches. Perianth-segments all about the same length, blunt, 

 outer ones mucronate, purplish brown. Capsule glossy black, 

 obtuse, but mucronate, rather longer than the perianth. 



Moist meadows and marshy Alps and sub- Alps ; 4000-6500 feet ; 

 and rarely descending to the Swiss plains. July to September. 



Distribution. Alps, Jura, Vosges, Cevennes, Corbieres, Pyrenees, 

 Central Europe, Western Asia, N. America, N. Britain. 



Juncus articulatus L., /. lamprocarpus Ehrh. Jointed Rush. 



Extremely variable in size and habit. Stems 4-18 inches high. 

 Rhizome short. Leaves sheathing the stem below, hollow and 

 cylindrical upwards, divided inside by cross partitions of pith which 

 give a jointed appearance. Flowers in small clusters of 3-10 

 arranged in compound, terminal panicles. Outer bracts usually 

 end in a short, fine leaf. Perianth-segments either all pointed or 

 the inner ones obtuse. Capsule rather pointed, either shorter or 

 more usually longer than the perianth. 



Wet, and especially wet stony places ; abundant. June to 

 September. 



Distribution. Europe, Asia, Africa, N. America. British. 



Juncus triglumis L. 



A small species 3-6 inches high. Leaves radical, short, and grass- 

 like, sheathing the base of the stem. Flowers brown, in a single 

 terminal cluster of 2 or 3 and rarely 5. Perianth-segments obtuse, 

 scarious at the edges. Capsule obtuse, longer than the perianth. 



Mountain bogs and wet Alpine pastures, from 5000-8000 feet. 



Distribution. -Alps, Pyrenees, Central and Northern Europe ; 

 Northern Asia and America. Rare in Britain. 



