NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF JUNCUS. 257 
of maturing the seeds, at the end of August, the long horizontal rhizoma, which at its end is to bear the flowering 
stem of next season, begins to shoot forth, and from the axils of its scales produces a number of extremely short or 
rudimentary branchlets which are again branching and form short knobs on the rootstock. ese branchlets bear a 
number of capillary leaves of the thickness of horsehair, but knotted like the ordinary leaves of this species, at this 
time, end of August, few in number, and only a few inches long. Towards the close of the season they increase in 
number and length, and seem to live through the winter wherever they are immersed deep enough to escape the 
rost. They attain their full development about May and June, when they are 2 or 3 feet long, and carpet the bottom of 
those streams, at the depth of 2 to 4 feet below the surface, with their dark green undulating masses, most beautiful to 
look at, but quite obnoxious to the proprietors of the mill-streams, the sluices of which they are apt to obstruct. These 
leaves decay about the period the plant begins to bloom. The beautiful specimens collected by Dr. Robbins for the 
Herbarium Normale (No. 53) exhibit them to perfection. The twist and bend of the stem of many of Dr Robbins’ 
flowering specimens is caused by the strong current in which they grew. The only thing mpeoeenne such sub- 
merged leaves, Mr. Parker has found in the Delaware iret Philadelphia, where this plant grows “in shallow water, 
extending to the border of deep running water, the finest specimens growing at a depth of 3 or 4 feet.” How does 
this species grow in stagnant ponds or swamps? It would be very desirable that collectors of Junci should pay more 
attention to the circumstances under which these plants occur, the process of their vegetation, the time of flowering and 
of maturity, and, of course, to the base of the stem and to the rootstock, which is too often a vain desideratum in 
herbarium specimens. 
37. J. SUPINIFORMIS, ne sp.: foliis vernalibus e basi latiore Sit tie ceapillaceis longissimis teretibus pallide 
on natantibus evanescentibus ; caule florifero erecto humili tali vel ultra) folia érecta teretia aes 
erente ; panicula simplici; capitulis sub-5-floris ; sepalis dancin cuspidatis nervosis equalibus seu extern 
aH part Aa inter se inequalibus stamina 3 stigmataque paulo excedentibus ; antheris oblong filamento ral 
-brevioribus ; stylo eee) eapsula prismatica obtusa mucronata uniloculari calycem fere excedente ; seminibus 
obovatis utrumque apiculati 
Common in and aro ia ponds, near Mendocino City, California ; May and June, H. Bolander, Cal. State 
Surv. 4767. — Mr. Bolander informs me that in spring these ponds are completely covered with the pale green [462] 
capillary leaves of this species, 1 or 2 feet long. As the water recedes with the advancing dry season, the erect 
flowering stems begin to form, and a little later the vestiges of the decayed vernal leaves cover the remaining mud 
with grayish sia hectiml -like filaments, The flowers are nearly 2 lines long, the (immature) capsule is prismatic with 
concave sides; the seeds, too imperfect to make out their sculpture, were 0.27-0.30 line long, large for the size of the 
lant. 
This species is closely allied to J. supinus of Europe, whence the name, and appears to stand next to its var. 
fluitans ; but that species has smaller flowers, with obtuse sepals, an obtuse capsule, and smaller seeds. These charac- 
ters, however, do not seem to be quite constant, so that further examination of more complete specimens will be 
necessary. 
J. Extiorri, Chapman, Flor. South. St. 494: caulibus (1-2-pedalibus) ceespitosis erectis folia tenuia longe 
assure bus ; panicula composita vel decomposita subpatente; capitulis oot otie globulosis; sepalis ovato-lanceolatis 
acutissimis sequalibus stamina 3 tertia a ee capsulam late ovatam obtusam brevissime mucronulatam 
1-locularem atrofuscam lucidam fere equantibus; antheris linearibus sendshs vix longioribus; ovario ovato obtuso 
stigmatibus Scat he subinclusis fere eijulldnigo’ seminibus oblanceolatis saeco iees isons ntrinque attenuatis rufo- 
uscis areis levibus 
From North Chsatita Canby, to South Carolina, Ravenel, Beyrich (distributed under the name J. acumin sel 
Florida, Chapman, Hb. norm. 54, Alabama, Sullivant, and southern Mississippi, Z. Hilgard. — Many slender stem: 
spring from a short rhizoma, whic bears numerous long fibrous rootlets (under water ?); panicle usually 3-4 ‘esha 
long, with a few principal branches ; fruit-heads (from the broad, blunt capsules) obtuse, 2 or 2} lines in diameter 
flowers 1,0-1.2 lines long, greenish, turning brown ; capsule usually very dark-colored and shining, rarely paler ; ws 
easily listinguished by their dark color aid steiidee form, mostly 0. 23-0. 27 line long and ovie-thind as much in dia’ 
quite conspicnous. This is one of our earliest species, flowering in April and May. The sdeeitee 
growth, the small, ee dark-colored heads and dark seeds distinguish this plant at once, but whether Elliott’s J. 
acuminatus is the same as this, as Chapman suggests, or whether it belongs to one of the forms of the next species, 
does not appear foci his inguilichent description. 
J. ACUMINATUS, Michx. 1, 192, non Gray, Man., nec Auct. Amer. plur.: caulibus cespitosis Ried 
; pantie ula effusa plus minus composita; capitulis pauci- vel multifloris pallidis sepe demum stramine 
soni ; sepalis lanceolato-subulatis acutissimis subequalibus stamina 3 dimida seu tertia parte secianteithias: ; [463] 
antheris filamento plerumque brevioribus ; stigmatibus subsessilibus ovario ovato obtuso seu rarius acutato sub- 
33 
