CYl'ERACE^ffi. 63 



Sub-Species I.— Scirpus eu-lacustxis. 



Plate MDXCVI. 



7?,-(V-;(. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. VHI. Tab. CCCVl. 



S. lacustris, ./I !«■<. Plur. 



S. lacustris, var. a, genuinus, Grcn. & Godr. Fl. de Fr. Vol. III. p 372. 



Stem terete throughout, deep green; sheaths leafless except when 

 growing in running water, in which case there are often long linear 

 laraina\ Floating leaves common in rivers. Spikes ovate-ovoid in 

 fruit. Glumes glabrous. Antliers with the apiculus ciliated. Stigmas 

 usually 3. Nut compressed-trigonous. 



In lakes, ponds, and slow streams. Common, and generally dis- 

 tributed. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer. 



Rootstock thick, black, creeping, each division of it producing 

 numerous stems one before the other. Stems about the thickness of 

 a man's finger at the base, 3 to 8 feet high, spongy and white in the 

 inside, with a smooth flexible green exterior; sheaths black at the 

 l)ase, brown above, the uppermost ones green, without any lamina 

 when growing in perfectl}' still water, but when growing in running 

 streams there is frequently a lamina of several inches long in the upper 

 sheath : besides this, in running water numerous barren tufts of leaves 

 are produced, often of great length, and resembling those of Sparga- 

 nium ofRne. Panicle at first pseudo-lateral, but in fruit it appears 

 terminal, from the lowest bract being pushed to one side ; panicle 

 branches numerous, the lowest ones f to 1 inch long. Spikes |- to i 

 inch long, fusiform in flower, becoming ovate-ovoid in fruit. Anthers 

 pale yellow, the connective produced beyond the anther cells, and 

 always (?) fringed. Bristles about as long as the nut, retrorsely 

 hispid. Nut J inch long, very pale green, dim, under a lens appearing 

 etched with very numerous short longitudinal lines. 



Common Bull-rusli. 

 French, Scirpc des lac>t. German, Seesimse. 



This plant is called the Bnllmsh in some parts of England, though the name is 

 more commonly given to Tijpha latifoUa. It grows in clear stagnant -water, throwing 

 up numerous round stems from three to eight feet in height. These stems are used 

 for making the bottoms of chairs, mats, and hassocks, also in fenny districts for 

 thatching buildings. They are likewise consumed largely by coopers for placing 

 between the staves of casks. Large quantities are brought for these purposes fi-om 

 Holland, being first dried in the sun, and tied up in large bundles for sale. In hot 

 weather the Tartars lie upon mattresses made of these rushes. 



The roots are very astringent and diuretic, and wore formerly employed in medi- 

 cine, but are no longer used. The old name for the large Bull-ru.sh seems to have been 



