292 PETALOIDE7E 



3- L. campestris (Field Wood-Rush). — Leaves hairy ; panicle of 

 3 or 4 dense, many-flowered clusters. Much smaller than either 

 of the preceding. This is one of the first grass-like plants to show 

 flower in spring, when it may be distinguished from all other meadow 

 herbs, by its close clusters or spikes of brownish- green flowers, each 

 of which contains 6 large, light yellow anthers. Pastures ; com- 

 mon. — Fl. March to May. Perennial. 



Other Brilish species of Wood-Rush are /,. Forsteri (Forster's 

 Wood- Rush), the panicle of which is slightly branched, and bears 

 its flmeers solitary ; each capsule contains 3 seeds, having a straight 

 tail at their summits ; it resembles L. pilosa in habit, but is much 

 smaller ; the seeds of the latter plant are furnished with a long 

 hooked tail : L. spicata (Spiked Mountain Wood-Rush) is about 

 the same size as L. campestris ; it has narrow leaves, bears its 

 flowers in a compound, drooping spike, and grows only on high 

 mountains : L. arcuata (Curved Mountain Wood-Rush) is a small 

 and very rare species, found only on the summit of the Scottish 

 mountains ; it bears its flowers in panicles, 3-5 together, on droop- 

 ing stalks. 



Natural Order LXXXVII 



BUTOMACEiE.^FLOWERiNG Rusii Tribe. 



Sepals 3, green ; petals 3, coloured ; stamens varying in number ; 

 ovaries superior, 3, 6, or more, distinct, or united into a mass ; 

 carpels many-seeded. A small tribe of aquatic plants, with sword- 

 shapcd leaves and conspicuous flowers. The only British example 

 is the Flowering Rush, described below. 



I. BuTOJius (Flowering Rush-. — Stamens g ; carpels 6. (Name 

 from the Greek, hous, an ox, and temno, to cut, because cattle 

 feeding on the leaves are liable to cut their mouths.) 



I. BuTOMUS (Flowering Rush) 



I. B. umhellatus (Flowering Rush). — The only British species. 

 A tall aquatic plant, growing in stagnant water and slow rivers ; 

 not uncommon. The leaves are sword-shaped, 2-4 feet long, and 

 spring all from the root ; the flowers are large, rose-coloured, and 

 handsome, and grow in a simple umbel at the top of a round stalk, 

 which rises several feet above the surface of the water. — Fl. June, 

 July. Perennial. 



Natural Order LXXXVIII 



ALTSMACE.E.— Water Plantain Tribe 



Sepals 3, green ; petals 3, coloured ; stamens varying in number ; 

 ovaries superior, numerous ; carpels numerous, i or 2-seeded. A 

 small tribe of aquatic plants, often floating, with long-stalked 



