CLA3S \l. ORDER I.] 1UZDL4. 51 I 



Gramen luzulae, or Glow-worm grass ; for he never called it 

 Luzula, which would have been the same as actually calling it 

 a Glow-worm." — Eng. Fl. vol. ii. p. 178. 



* Seeds not appendiculated, or slightlif so at the apex. 



1. L. sylvaUica, Bicheno. (Fig. 583.) Great Hairy Wood Rush. 

 Panicle sub-cymose, doubly compound ; peduncles elongated, of about 

 three flowers; perianth of six bristle pointed segments, as long as the 

 capsule; filaments very short; leaves linear, lanceolate, with hairy 

 margins. 



English Flora, vol. ii. p. 180. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 169.— 

 Lindley, Synopsis, p. 276. — Juncus sylvaticus, Hudson. — English Bo- 

 tany, t. 737. — Luzula maxima, Willd. — De Cand. Fl. Fr. — Juncus 

 maximus, Ebr. — /. Lalifolius, Wulf. in Jacq. CoUec. — /. pilosus, var. 

 S. Linn. 



Root of long slender branched fibres, with somewhat woody creeping 

 underground stems. Stems erect, from one to two feet high, striated 

 and leafy, slender. Leaves from the root numerous, linear, lanceolate, 

 smooth and shining, striated, paler beneath, with the margins fringed 

 with white slender soft hairs, leaves of the stem short, with long sheaths 

 enveloping the stem. Panicle terminal, sub-cymose, very compound, 

 with slender smooth spreading branches, much longer than the leafy 

 bracteas, those at the base of the subdivisions and flowers lanceolate, 

 pale, smooth, membranous, with ciliated margins. Peduncles very 

 slender, mostly bearing a cluster of three flowers. Perianth of six 

 nearly equal segments, lanceolate, keeled, the keel terminating in a 

 bristly point, the outer segments of a chestnut brown, the inner paler, 

 more acute, and rather longer than the outer. Stamens shorter than 

 the perianth, with very short filaments and linear yellow anthers, be- 

 coming twisted after bursting. Style long, with three slender spreading 

 stigmas. Capsule ovate, acute, crowned by the persistent base of the 

 style, three angled, three valved, and three seeded, the seeds ovate 

 oblong, obtusely triangular, the inner side marked by a narrow longi- 

 tudinal rib, the base attached to the receptacle by a slender spiral 

 thread, and the base with a pale obscure appendage. 



Habitat. — Woods and shady places in hilly and mountainous dis- 

 tricts ; frequent. 



Perennial ; flowering in May. 



The leaves vary a good deal in width and the hairiness of its margins, 

 but otherwise it is constant in its character. The plants form large 

 tufts, and are firmly rooted, but its slippery pliant leaves render it an 

 unsafe footing, though a secure handhold to the rambler in assisting 

 him to climb the steep aclivity, or rocky sides of mountains. It does 

 not appear to be a favourite food with any cattle ; but its dried leaves 

 are useful for many purposes of packing, &c. where a softer and more 

 pliant material ihau common straw is required. 



