502 JUNCUS. [class VI. OKDER I. 



with the flowers aggregated or fasciculated. Seeds not appen- 

 diculated. 



12. J. acu'tiflorus, Ehrh. (Fig. 571.) Sharp flotvered jointed Rush. 

 Stem and leaves slightly compressed ; leaves apparently jointed ; 

 panicle repeatedly forked, and spreading; segments of the perianth 

 nearly equal, lanceolate, very acute, bristle pointed, rather shorter 

 than the ovate acuminate beaked capsule. 



English Botany, t. 2143 (at the bottom of the page). — English Flora, 

 vol. ii. p. 174. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 165. — Lindley, Sy- 

 nopsis, p. 275. — J. sylvaticus, Reichard. fl. raceno-francof. 2. p. 181. 

 pub. 1778. — Willd. sp. pi. — J. articulatus, Linn. var. y. — English 

 Botany, t. 238. 



Roots of long tufted branched fibres, with short creeping under- 

 ground stems. Stems erect, from one to two feet high, smooth, 

 slightly compressed, bearing two, three, or sometimes four leaves, and 

 with several lanceolate scales at the base, a dull somewhat glaucous 

 green. Leaves alternate, long, tapering upwards, slightly compressed, 

 hollow, with transverse partitions, giving it a jointed or knotted ap- 

 pearance, especially when dried, dilated at the base into a thin sheath, 

 enveloping the stem, having an obtuse pale membranous ligula at the 

 top. Inflorescence a terminal panicle, with repeatedly forked spread- 

 ing branches, more erect in flower than in fruit, and varying consi- 

 derably in size, sometimes large and spreading, and not unfrequently 

 small and pyramidal, the branches mostly slender, the extreme ones 

 sometimes reflexed, each division having at its base a thin membranous 

 lanceolate bractea, finely striated. Flotvers in clusters, from three to 

 fifteen in number. Perianth of six nearly equal segments, lanceolate, 

 tapering acutely into a bristly point, green and scarcely keeled at the 

 back, the point and side a dark shining brown. Stamens not half as 

 long as the perianth, with very &\ior\, filaments and large anthers, erect, 

 yellow, elliptical. Strfle short. Stigmas spreading. Capsule about 

 as long as the perianth, three angled, elliptic-ovate, acutely pointed 

 into a short beak, pale brown colour. Seeds numerous, oblong, small, 

 not enveloped in a membrane. 



Habitat. — Bogs and marshy places; very common. 



Perennial ; flowering in July and August. 



This species varies considerably in the size of the plant and the cha- 

 racter of the panicle. When the heads of flowers are numerous, it is 

 the J. brevirostris, Nees. the J", melananthos, Reicheub. the J. acuti- 

 florus, var. /3. multiflorus, Weih. and /3. microcephalus, Koch. When 

 the panicle is spreading in a somewhat umbellate manner, it is the 

 J, acutiflorus, var. y. pallescens, Koch, and var. y. Meyer. 



The flowers of this species are frequently abortive, and by its cap. 

 sules being rarely longer than the perianth, its paler colour and much 

 less highly polished covering distinguishes it from the following, as wel 



