JUNCACE^ — PALM^. 619 



obtuse, multifid or undivided. Fruit a 1-celled, 3-valved capsule. 

 Seeds numerous ; embryo on the outside of mealy albumen, remote 

 from the hilum. — Herbs having a sedge-like aspect, with radical 

 leaves, equitant and sheathing at the base, and scaly heads of flowers. 

 Natives chiefly of tropical regions, having no important properties. 

 There are about 7 genera and 72 species. Examples — ^Xyris, Abol- 

 boda, PhUydrum? 



Order 204. — JuNOACEiE, the Eush Family. {Mono-Hypo-Perigyn.) 

 Perianth 6-parted, more or less glumaceous. Stamens 6, inserted into 

 the base of the segments, sometimes 3, and opposite the outer seg- 

 ments j anthers 2-ceUed, introrse. Ovary 1-3-celled ; ovules 1, 3, or 

 many in each cell, anatropal ; style 1 ; stigmas generally 3, some- 

 times 1. Fruit a 3-valved capsule, with loculicidal dehiscence, some- 

 times indehiscent. Seeds with the testa neither black nor crustaceous ;. 

 embryo very minute, near the hHum, within fleshy or cartilaginous 

 albumen. — Herbs with fasciculated or fibrous roots, hollow, grooved, 

 or flat leaves, with parallel veins. In rushes the green shoots which 

 act as leaves are often terete ; they are either barren or bear flowers. 

 They often have stellate cellular tissue in their interior, and they are 

 sometimes twisted in a spiral manner (fig. 190, p. 91). They arc 

 natives chiefly of the colder re^ons of the globe. Many species of 

 Juncus are used for making the bottoms of chairs, mats, etc., and the 

 central cellular tissue forms the wicks of rushlights. In Sussex the 

 manufacturers of rush fabrics use Juncus glaucus, hard Rush, J. 

 effusus, soft Eush, /. conglomeratus, hollow Eush. AU the three are used 

 for mats ; the last two for chair bottoms. Prionium Palmita, Pal- 

 mite, is a remarkable aquatic Juncaceous plant of South Africa. It 

 has a very thick stem, and is from 5 to 10 feet long. There are about 

 8 known genera and upwards of 130 species. Examples — Juncus, 

 Luzula. 



Order 205. — Paluls!, the Palm Tribe. (Mono-Perigyn.) Flowers 

 bisexual or unisexual, or polygamous. Perianth 6-parted in a double 

 row (fig. 867) ; 3 outer (calyx) fieshy, or leathery and persistent (figs, 

 862 ce, 866 c), 3 inner (corolla) often larger (figs. 862 ci), and 

 sometimes deeply connate. Stamens 6 (figs. 863, 867), rarely 3,. 

 sometimes 00, inserted into the base of the perianth. Ovary free, 

 1-3-celled, usually composed of 3 carpels, which are more or less com- 

 pletely united (fig. 865) ; ovules 1-3. Fruit drupaceous, ot nut-like 

 (fig. 866), or baccate, often with a fibrous covering. Seed with carti- 

 laginous or homy albumen (fig. 616, p. 341), which is often ruminate 

 (fig. 593, p. 333), or furnished with a central or lateral cavity; em- 

 bryo small, cyliodrical, or flat, in a cavity of the albumen, remote 

 from the hilum (figs.'.593, p. 333 ; 616, p. 341).— Arborescent plants 

 (fig. 134, 1, p. 68), with simple, rarely branched trunks, marked 

 with the scars of the leaves, which are terminal, pinnate, or fan- 



