XLIV. JUNCE^. 



&63 



JCerofes JongifoUa, 

 Diagram 9* 



A', longifolia. 

 Diagi'am ^ , 



X. rigida. 

 Seed, entire and cut vertically (mag.). 



Dasylit'ion. 

 Young fruit (mag.). 



These genera were formerly placed among Jtmceas, but have now been withdrawn and grouped by 

 themselves. Abama (^Narthecmm) is European and North American ; Aphyllanthes South European ; 

 Xerotes, Xantliorrhma and Sowerbfea Australian ; Danylirion Mexican. 



The stem oi Xanthorrhma nrhorea exudes a resinous yellow juice, commonly termed Botany Bay 

 Gum, of an acrid taste, and having when burnt the smell of benzoin ; it is used by the Australian 

 doctors for lienteria (a form of diarrhoea), and the diiferent diseases of the thoracic cavity. Abama otsifraga 

 was formerly classed among vulneraries ; it inhabits the swamps of North and Central Europe, and was 

 supposed to soften the bones of the sheep and oxen which fed on it; to wliich prejudice it owes its 

 specific name. 



XLIV. JUNCEyE. 



(Juiirci, Jussieu. — Junoe^, D.G. — JuNOAOBiE, Agardh.) 



Flowers iisually 5 . Perianth inferior, 6-phyllous, glumaceous, 2-seriate, 

 Stamens 6, or rarely 3, inserted at the base of the perianth-segments. Ovart superior, 

 3- or 1-celled, 1-many-ovuled ; ovules erect, anatropous. Capsule 1-6-celled, 

 loculicidal or septifragal. Seeds albuminous. Bmbeto basilar ; radicle inferior. — 

 Stem herbaceous. Leaves alternate, sheathing. 



Annual or perennial herbs, csespitose, or with a creeping rhizome. Stems 

 cylindric, spongy, or sometimes chambered by medullary septa, simple or rarely 

 branched, leafy, or sometimes shortened and giving off flowering scapes. Leaves 

 alternate, base sheathing, blade linear, pointed, nerves striate, entire or denticulate, 

 glabrous or hairy, flat channelled or cylindric, sometimes compressed and chambered 

 like the stems, finally sometimes obsolete. Flowers § , or . diclinous by arrest, 

 regular, in a cyme spike or head, rarely solitary, each furnished with a bracteole. 

 Perianth of 6 2-seriate leaflets, equal, gluniaceous-scarious, persistent, sestivation 

 imbricate. Stamens usually 6, opposite the perianth-segments, and inserted at their 

 base or hypogynous, rarely 3, opposite to the outer perianth-segments ; filaments 

 filiform free or united by their base ; anthers introrse, 2-celled, dehiscence longi- 

 tudinal. Ovart free, 3-celled, or 1-celled {Lunula, Bostkovia) ; style terminal, simple ; 

 stigmas 3, filiform, papillose ; ovules 3, basilar, or numerous and with central or 

 parietal placentation, erect or ascending, anatropous. Capsule 1-3-ceUed, with 3 

 semi-septiferous valves sometimes coherent at their base, rarely septifragal; Seeds 



