XLVI. PONTEDERIACE^. 8G5 



Juncea inhabit damp meadows and swamps, or grassy and woody mountain regions ; they are scarce, 

 in dry ground. They mostly grow in north temperate latitudes, and some species advance to both polar 

 regions; they become rarer as we approach the equator. Juncus and Luzula are cosmopolitan, and are 

 met with on the highest mountains of both worlds. Prionium is South African ; Koitkovia inhabits 

 the Maganellic lands [and New Zealand]. 



The properties of Juncece are uninteresting. The fruit of Juncus acutus, baked and steeped in wine is 

 said to be a diuretic, and to stop menorrhagia, but it gives headaches. The rhizomes of J. conylomeratus, 

 effusus, glaucus, and especially of Luzula vemalis, are popular diuretics in Central Europe. J. ylaucus is 

 cultivated by gardeners to make bands of. The Chinese use the pith of certain species for candle-wicks. 

 [The farthing rushlight of England had a wick of rush pith.] 



XLV. EAPATE^ Endlicher. 



[Perennial usually tall marsh HERBS. KOOTSTOCK short. LEAVES equitant, 

 ensiform, rigid, base sheathing. SCAPES erect. SPATHE 1-2-leaved. FLOWERS 

 $ , in a dense terminal spathaceous capitulum. Yellow or rose-coloured, sessile 

 or pedicelled, with many imbricate bracts. PERIANTH 6-partite ; 3 outer leaflets 

 navicular, rigid, imbricate ; 3 inner petaloid, fugacious, often cohering in a tube, 

 contorted in cestivation. STAMENS 6, inserted in pairs opposite the inner perianth- 

 segments ; anthers basifixed, 2-celled ; apex tubular, opening by a terminal single 

 or double pore, or terminated by a polliniferous or sub-glandular appendage. 

 OVARY 3- celled; style simple, filiform; stigma capitate, papillose; ovules 1-2 in each 

 cell, erect, anatropous. CAPSULE membranous or coriaceous, 1-3-celled, loculicidally 

 2-3-valved. SEEDS oblong or sub-globose ; hilum basilar ; albumen fleshy. EMBRYO 

 immersed in the albumen, minute ; radicle next the hilum. 



GENERA. 

 Rapatea. Spathanthus. Schoenocephalum. 



A small order allied to Juncece, with the habit of Cyperacece, very peculiar anthers, and the perianth 

 of Xyrideee, Natives of Brazil; of no known use. ED.] 



XLVI. PONTEDERIACE^E. 



, A. Richard. PONTEDERE^E, Kunth.} 



FLOWERS g . PERIANTH inferior, petaloid, 6-partite, irregular, persistent. 

 STAMENS inserted on the perianth, 6, or 3 opposite to the inner segments. OVARY 

 superior, of 3 many-ovuled cells, or 2 sterile," and 1 fertile and l-ovuled. FRUIT a 

 capsule, enveloped by the fleshy perianth. ALBUMEN farinaceous. EMBRYO straight, 

 axile. Marsh PLANTS. STEM herbaceous. LEAVES alternate, with sheathing petiole. 



Perennial aquatic or marsh HERBS, with a short rhizome or rooting stem. 

 LEAVES alternate ; petiole cylindric or vesicular, largely sheathing at the base ; blade 



1 This Order is omitted in the original. Ei . 

 3 K 



