542 THE BESTIO FAHILT. 



panicle; the central cluster sessile, the others on slender peduncles varying 

 from a Une or two to an inch in length. Perianth-segments very pointed, 

 brown, with light-coloured shining edges, about 1^ lines long. Capsule 

 shorter and obtuse. 



In dry pastures, woods, and heaths, throughout the northern hemisphere 

 without the tropics, and in some parts of the southern hemisphere. Abun- 

 dant in Britain. Ft. spring. In some specimens the peduncles are so 

 shortened as to give the inflorescence the appearance of that of the spiked 

 IV., but the outer clusters are never quite sessile, and the perianth is always 

 much larger than in the spiTced W. 



5. Spiked MToodrusli. Iiuzula spicata, DC. 



{Junmis, Eng. Bot. t. 1176.) 



Rather smaller than the field W., and the flowers considerably smaller 

 (about f hue long), in dense clusters, aU sessile, forming an ovoid or oblong 

 terminal spike, \ to near 1 inch long, and more or less drooping, the lowest 

 1 or 2 clusters often a httle apart from the others, but always sessile vfithin 

 a short leafy bract. 



An alpine species, common in northern and Arctic Europe, Asia, and 

 America, and in the high mountain-ranges of central and southern Europe, 

 the Caucasus, and Altai. Abundant in Scotland, very local in northern 

 England and North Wales, and unknown in Ireland. Fl. summer. 



LXXXVI. THE RESTIO FAMILY. EESTIACE^. 



Herbs, differing from the Rush family in their unisexual 

 flowers, and in their ovules and seeds always solitary in each 

 cell of the ovary or capsule, and suspended from the top, not 

 erect from the base as iu Woodrush. 



A considerable Order, comprising, besides the genus Eriocaulon, many 

 Australian and South AfiT-can genera, with a much more rush-like or sedge- 

 like habit. 



I. ERIOCAUI.ON. ERIOCATJLON. 



Aquatic or marsh plants, with tufted leaves. Peduncles leafless, with a 

 terminal globular head of minute flowers ; the central ones chiefly males, the 

 outer ones chiefly females; all intermixed with small bracts, of which the 

 outer ones are rather larger, forming an involucre round the head. Perianth 

 very delicate, of 4 or 6 segments, the 2 or 3 inner ones in the males united 

 to near the summit. Stamens in the males as many or half as many as the 

 perianth-segments. Capsule in the females 2- or 3-lobed, and 2- or 3-celled. 

 Style single, with 2 or 3 stigmas. 



A large genus, widely distributed over the globe, numerous in South 

 America, and extending over that continent to the Arctic Circle, general in 

 tropical Asia, Africa, and Australia, but whoUy wanting in Russian Asia 

 and Europe, with the exception of the single British station. 



1. Jointed Eriocaulon. Eriocaulon septangulare. With. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 733.) 

 The slender rootstock creeps in the mud under water, emitting numerous 



