JTJsrcACE.5). 535 



1. Common Colchicum. Colchicum autumnale, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 133. Meadow-Saffron.) 



At the time of flowering there are no leaves ; the brown bulb ending in a 

 sheath of brown scales enclosing the base of the flowers, whose long tube 

 rises to 3 or 4 inches aboveground, with 6 oblong segments of a reddish- 

 purple or rarely white, and near li inches long. Soon afterwards the leaves 

 appear and attain in spring a length of 8 or 10 inches by about 1 or li 

 inches in breadth. The capsule is then raised to the surface of the ground 

 by the lengthening of the peduncle, soon after which the leaves wither away. 



In moist meadows, and pastures, over the greater part of Europe, but 

 rare in the north, and scarcely extends into Asia. Very abundant in some 

 parts of England and Ireland, rare in others, and a very doubtful inhabitant 

 of Scotland. Fl. autumn. 



LXXXV. THE RUSH FAMILY. JUNCACEJ^.. 



Herbs, usually stiif, with cylindrical or narrow and grass- 

 like leaves, and small, herbaceous or dry flowers, in terminal 

 or apparently lateral clusters or panicles. Perianth regular, 

 dry, and calyx-like, of 6 segments. Stamens 6 or rarely 3 only, 

 the anthers opening inwards. Styles single, with 3 stigmas. 

 Capsule 1- or 3-celled, opening in 3 valves, with few or many 

 small seeds. 



A small family, abundantly spread over the whole surface of the globe, 

 with almost all the technical characters of the Lily family except the con- 

 sistence of the perianth, whilst the general aspect brings it nearer to the 

 Sedges and the Grasses. 



Capsule 3-eelled, with many seeds. Leaves cylindrical, at least at their 



tips, or very rarely iiat 1. Ettsh. 



Capsule 1-eelled, with 3 seeds. Leaves flat and grass-like 2. Woodeush. 



I. RUSH. JUNCUS. 



Leaves stiff and glabrous, cylindrical, at least at the tips, or grooved, or 

 very rarely flat and grass- like. Flowers either distinct or in little clusters, 

 usually arranged in irregular panicles ; the branches very unequal in length, 

 with a dry sheathing bract (like the glumes of Sedges and Grasses) under 

 each ramfecation, cluster, or flower ; the outer bract or bracts often endmg 

 in a long leaf-Uke point, in some species appearing like a continuation of the 

 stem. Capsule 3-celled, with numerous small seeds. 



The principal genus of the Order, and co-extensive in its geographical 

 range. The species are almost aU inhabitants of marshy, boggy, or wet 

 ground, and several are almost cosmopolitan. 



Stems quite leafless, except the brown sheathing scales at the 

 base, which have no leafy tips. Flowers ia a lateral cluster. 

 Stems soft and pliable. 



Flowers very numerous. Perianth about 1 line long. . . 1. Common S. 

 Flowers few, about halfway up the stem. Perianth about 



2 lines long 3. Thread S. 



