496 JUNCUS. Lf^LASS VI. ORDER I. 



smooth, slightly striated below ; sheaths at the base leafless; panicle 

 loose, much branched ; segments of the perianth lanceolate, very acute, 

 rather longer than the obovale obtuse capsule. 



English Botany, t. 836.— English Flora, vol. ii. p. 162.— Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 164. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 273. 



Root with somewhat creeping underground stems, and long stout 

 branched fibres. Stems erect, numerous, tufted, from one to two feet 

 high or more, round, smooth, soft and pliant, not rigid as the last, 

 tapering upwards, of a paler green, scarcely striated, except in the 

 lower part, the base enveloped in several striated smooth shinijig reddish 

 brown acutely pointed short leafless sheaths. Panicle above the middle 

 of the stems, very much branched and spreading, with very numerous 

 flowers, each division of the branches having at the base one or •'two 

 pale thin membranous lanceolate bractea. Perianth of six lanceolate 

 nearly equal pieces, tapering into a very acute point, pale green, the 

 three outer ones with an obtuse keel, broad at the base, tapering into 

 the point, the inner ones with two distant ribs. Stamens shorter than 

 the perianth, six sometimes, but rarely three. Filaments slender. 

 Anthers yellow, oblong. Style very short, or wanting. Stigmas 

 spreading. Capsule obovate, obtuse, marked at the top by the base of 

 the style, rather shorter than the perianth, smooth, shining, three celled, 

 three valved, and many seeded. 



Habitat.— Wet meadows and boggy places; frequent. 



Perennial ; flowering in July. 



5. J. conglomera'tus, Linn. (Fig. 564:.) Common Rush. Stem naked, 

 smooth, faintly striated ; sheaths at the base leafless ; panicle much 

 branched, dense, globular ; segments of the perianth lanceolate, very 

 acute, rather longer than the broadly ovate obtuse capsule ; stamens 

 three. 



English Botany, t. 835. — English Flora, vol. ii. p. 161. — Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 164. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 273. 



Root with creeping underground stems, and numerous long stout 

 branched fibres. Stem erect, round, smooth, green, numerously and 

 very finely striated, erect, from one to three feet high, tapering up- 

 wards, tufted, and the base enveloped in several smooth shining leafless 

 sheaths, obtuse, with a slender bristle-like point. Panicle above the 

 middle of the stem, of numerous much divided angular branches, form- 

 ing a dense globule of flowers, each division of the branches having 

 one or two pale membranous striated lanceolate bracteas. Perianth 

 of six equal lanceolate very acute pieces, pale and membranous on the 

 margins, with a green keel at the back, tapering into the point. Sta- 

 mens always three, shorter than the perianth, with yellow oblong 

 anthers, the style very short. Stigmas spreading, and the capsule 

 broadly obovate, three angled, obtuse, with a small obtuse point, three 

 celled, three valved, and many seeded, the seeds small, pale brown, 

 angular. 



