RUSH FAMILY 497 



simple slem, bearing 4 whorled, net-veined lecnies, and a solitary, 

 terminal, green, generally 4-merous flower, succeeded by a berry- 

 like jruii. (Name from the Latin par, equal, on account of the 

 equal number of leaves in the several whorls.) 



1. P. quadrifolia (Herb-Paris, True-T.ove Knot). — The only 

 British species, a singular plant, about a foot high, with 4 large, 

 ovate, acute leaves ; a rather large flower with narrow perianth- 

 leaves and a black, 4-chambered berry. — Woods ; rather local. — 

 Fl. May, June. Perennial. 



Ord. LXXXIII. JUNC.icE.E, — Rush F.uiily 



An Order of plants mostly perennial and inhabiting marshy 

 situations m temperate or arctic regions. They have mostly 

 creeping rhizomes; stems herbaceous, seldom branched, erect, 

 often with considerable central pith ; leaves often resembling the 

 stems, and filled with a pith-like internal tissue, or flat ; flowers 

 small, green or brown, polysymmetric, and perfect, in cymose 

 clusters ; periaihh inferior, of 6 free, membranous, imbricate, per- 

 sistent leaves ; siameus 6, rarely 3, with introrse anthers ; ovary 

 1 — 3-chaml)ered, 3- or many-ovuled ; style i ; stigmas 3, slender ; 

 fruit a capsule. The true Rushes ( [uncus) are, for the most 

 part, social plants, single species covering widf areas of marsh or 

 bog and often proving of considerable use in fijiing the soil. The 

 stems of the common species were formerly- used to slrew the 

 stone floors of castle halls in lieu of carpets, for twisting into 

 cordage, and for wicks for tallow candles ; but are now seldom 

 put to any use. The name Rush is extended to members of 

 other Orders, the name Bulrush being applied to Scirpiis laaistns, 

 which belongs to the Sedge Family {Cyperdcece) and to the genus 

 Typha, which gives its name to the Order typhdcece, whilst the 

 name Flowering Rush is applied to Biitomus timhelldtus in the 

 Order Alistndcea. 



1. JuN'CUS. — Smooth plants generally with cylindric leaves: 

 ovary generally 3-chambered ; ovules man\-, 



2. LuzuLA. — More or less hairy plants, with flat leaves; 

 i-chambered ovary : ovules 3. 



I- JuNCUS (Rush) — Smooth marsh plarils, usually with a 

 creeping rhizome : cvlindric leaves ; membranous perianth ; 

 stamens 6, rarely 3 ; ovary 1 — 3-cbarabered, many-ovuled ; stigmas 

 3, wind-pollinated. (iName, the Classical Latin name of the 

 plant, perhaps connected with jungo, I join, referring to the 

 ancient use of the stems for twisting into corda'ge. ) 

 K K 



