JUKCACE^. 



537 



2. Hard Rush. Juncus glaucus, Elirh. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 665. J. diffusiis, Brit. Fl.) 



Eesembles the common R. in its main characters, but the stems are seldom 

 2 feet high, and aUhough thinner, yet harder and stiiier, and often glaucous ; 

 the panicle but 2 or 3 inches below the top ; the flowers rather larger, in a 

 much looser and less branched panicle. Capsule of a shining brown, never 

 flattened or hoUowed at the top, but rounded or almost pointed. Stamens 

 usually 6. 



Spread over Europe and Russian Asia, but not quite so abundantly as 

 the common JR. Extends ah over Britain. FL smnmer. 



3. Thread Rush. Juncus filiformis, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1175.) 



Stems as soft as in the common R, but very slender, and seldom much above 

 a foot high. Clusters of flowers small, usually not above halfway up tlie 

 stem ; the flowers few, much larger than in the common R. ; the periantli- 

 segments about 2 hues long. Capsule shorter, obtuse, with a short distinct 

 style. Stamens usually 6. 



In wet situations, in northern and central Europe and Kussian Asia, and 

 the mountain districts of southern Europe. In Britain, only known for 

 certain on the margins of lakes in northern England. Fl. summer. 



4. Baltic Rush. Juncus balticus, WiUd. 

 (Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2621.) 



Eootstock more creeping than in any of the foregoing. Stems very stiff 

 and hard, 1 to 2 feet high or more, often prickly at the end. Pamcie 

 lateral, more erect and much more dense than in the gla-ucous R., the 

 flowers larger, usually dark-brown. Perianth-segments broader and not so 

 pomted, especially the inner ones, which are often quite obtuse. Capsule 

 about the same length, obtuse, with a short style. Stamens 6. 



Chiefly near the sea, at high northern latitudes, in Europe, Asia, and 

 America. Spread all round the Baltic and along the eastern coasts of the 

 North Sea. In Britain, only in the northern counties of Scotland. FL 

 summer. It is probably a luxuriant variety of the arctic R. {J. arcticus), a 

 common plant in the extreme north of Europe and Asia, and reappearing 

 at great elevations in the mountain-ranges of central Europe. 



5. Jointed Rush. Juncus articulatus, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 238, J. lamprocarpus, t. 2143, J. uUginosus, t. 801, J. nigri- 



tellus, Suppl. t. 2643. J. acutiflorus, Brit. Fl.) 



An exceedingly variable species in habit and size, but readily known by 

 its leaves, which sheath the stem below, and are cylindrical upwards, and 

 hollow, but divided inside by cross partitions of pith, which give them, 

 especially when dry, the appearance of being jointed. Flowers in little 

 clusters of from 3 or 4 to 8 or 10 or more, arranged in more or less com- 

 pound terminal panicles; the outer bracts, and sometimes one or two of 

 the others, ending in a short, fine leaf. Perianth-segments about the size 

 of those of the common R., either all pointed or the inner ones obtuse. Cap- 

 sule more or less pointed, varying fi-om the length of the perianth to half as 

 long again. 



Throughout Europe and Russian Asia, from the Mediterranean to the 

 Arctic regions, and at high latitudes in North America. As abundant in 



