538 THE BUSH FAMILT. 



Britain as the common R. Fl. all summer. In rich, moist, deep soils the 

 stems form dense tufts, 2 or 3 feet high, with loose, very conipound, brown 

 or green panicles 5 or 6 inches diameter. In dried-up sandy or muddy 

 places the rootstock is more creeping, with ascending stems, from a few 

 inches to a foot or more, with much less branched panicles of a rich brown. 

 On the edges of ponds and watery ditches the stems will spread over the 

 water, rooting in it at the joints, often covering it to a great extent with 

 dense floating masses. At high elevations the stems are often short and 

 erect, with small panicles of 4 or 5 clusters of dark-brown flowers. 



6. Obtuse Rush. Juncus obtusiflorus, Ehrh. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 2144.) 



Probably to be added to the numerous varieties of the jointed R., only 



differing from the common larger erect form in having all the segments of 



the perianth obtuse or nearly so, and about as long as the very pointed 



capsule. 



Mixed with the jointed R. on the continent of Europe, and in some 

 localities as common. Apparently rare in Britain. Fl. summer. 



7. Round-fruited Rush. Juncus compressus, Jacq. 

 {J. htilbosus, Eng. Bot. t. 934, and J. ccenosus, Suppl. t. 2680.) 



Stems 1 to 1^ feet high, erect and rather slender, slightly compressed at 

 the base, with a few nearly radical leaves shorter than the stem, and one or 

 two higher up, all very narrow and channelled or grooved. Flowers ar- 

 ranged singly or scarcely clustered, in a rather loose terminal panicle, of a 

 shining brown. Perianth-segments obtuse, scarcely above a line long. Cap- 

 sule as long or rather longer, with a short style. 



In wet, marshy places, especially near the sea, in Europe and Russian 

 Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic regions. In Britain not so 

 generally spread as some other Rushes, and rare in inland districts. Fl. all 

 summer. 



8. Heath Rush. Juncus squarrosus, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 933.) 



Leaves all radical or nearly so, numerous at the base of each stem, and 

 not half its length, very narrow, grooved, stiff", but spreading. Flower-stem 

 usually under a foot high, rigid, with a terminal, compound but not much 

 branched panicle. Flowers usually distinct, not clustered. Perianth-seg- 

 ments about 2 Hnes long, rather broad, of a glossy brown, with broad, scari- 

 ous edges. Capsule about the same length. 



On moors and heaths, in drier situations than most Rushes, in central 

 and northern Europe and Asia, but scarcely an Arctic plant, although in 

 southern Europe chiefly confined to mountain districts. Abundant in 

 Britain. Fl. summer. 



9. Toad Rush. Juncus bufonius, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 802.) 

 A small, pale-coloured annual, with numerous stems, often forming dense 

 tufts, from 1 or 2 to 6 or 8 inches high, branching and flowering almost 

 from the base. Leaves chiefly radical, short and slender. Flowers solitary 

 or rarely 2 or 3 together along the branches, with the lower bracts leaf-like 

 but short. Perianth-segments narrow and pointed, above 2 lines long, of a 



I 



