* 
34 JUNCUS PYGM#US AS A BRITISH PLANT 
3 to 6, just as in the plants from pochcuis ll. This variability in 
pa which te received the name of J. insulanus from Roemer aire 
capsule ; whilst it is distinguished from all states of the variable 
J. insulanus by its much smaller capsule, which is even when quite ripe 
very nearly or entirely hidden by the perianth, and by its ribbed 
seeds. These, as shown b Buchenau in his useful paper (Journ. Bot. 
vi., p. 142), aii i sano characters in this genus; in su- 
lanus they: are coloured, barrel-shaped, and very minutely 
reticulate, sath of ‘ein pear-shaped, strongly costate, and brown as 
in J. pygmeus. But even in the absence of fruit and seed there is no 
difficulty in recognising iis two species, J. pygmaeus and J. bufonius 
(in all its forms) by the perianth-leaves alone, which in the latter are 
always more or less (often exceedingly) unequal, and are provided with — 
a single broad strong green midrib produced at the apex into a stout 
apiculus; whilst J. ygmeus, as above described has delicate 
papery equal segments with three slender veins; moreover the seg- 
ments of J. bufonius are spreading and widely separated at the points, 
whilst those of J/. pygmeus are parallel and approximated or conmi- 
vent at their ends even in ripe fruit. 
ery edition of Professor Babington’s Manual this species 
has been entered between brackets, with the remark that it “ will 
perhaps be found in sandy places near the sea”; after nearly thirty 
ed. 
12 or 15 feet square,” where the plants were grow retty — 
thickly. It was not noticed elsewhere, but no doubt oruheg in similar : 
eby’s 
places near. It should be looked for early in ary aan Mr. Bee 
specimens were collected in J une, and are in 
J. pygmaeus 
éus has an extensive range in Karope including the 
Mediterranean region at intervals from Greece to Spain, and the 
whole western coast ; extending also in a north- sie rcition as far 
as ay and (formerly) “the south of Sweden. Damp sandy 
