228 IIEXANDRIA MOKOGYNIA 



seeming articulations ; sheaths of the leaves striate, rather loose and open. Pani. 

 cle rather erect, more or less corymbose, generally with one principal branch 

 overtopping the rest ; branches wltli lanceolate acuminate bracts at base. Head* 

 usually 3 to G (lowered, pedunculate, or sessile, one subsessile in the forks of ih e 

 branches, with ovate acuminate bracts at base. Perianth pale green, or sometimes 

 purplish, often as long as the capsule, with ovate subaristate scarious bracts at 

 base ; sepals tapering to a very sharp slender awnlikc point. Stamens 3, oppo- 

 site the outer sepals. Capsule triquetrous-oblong, with a short acumination, red- 

 dish brown, striate, shining. Seeds minute, oblong, acuminate at each end, striate, 

 tawny yellow. 



Hob. Meadows, and moist low grounds: frequent. Fl. June— July. Fr. Aug.-Sept. 

 Obs. The heads of flowers, in this species, arc subject to a kind of monstrosity 

 (arising perhaps from the puncture of insects), which gives them the appearance 

 of being vivijxirous. 



3. J. roLYCErnALUs, Mx. Culm few-leaved, terete, subcomprcsscd 

 below; leaves subteretc, or compressed, iistular, nodose-articulate; pa- 

 nicle compound; flowers in globose heads; heads many-flowered, 

 pedunculate, or sessile ; perianth rather shorter than the triquetrous 

 acute capsule ; sepals lanceolate, cuspidate. Beck, Hot. p. 373. 

 J. nodosus, var. polycephalos. Pers. Syn. I. p. 384, 

 1 echinatue. MuhL Cat. p. a* Fj. Oram. p. 207. hart. Phil. 1 .p. 1 70. 



Many-headed Jutjccs. Vulgo — Button Rush. 



Root perennial, somewhat tuberous, and fibrous, creeping. Culm 1 to 2 feet 

 high, fistular, jointed, about 2-leaved. Leaves 3 to 6 inches long, often compressed 

 and ensiform, thickish, with knot-like joints ; sheatfts rather open, with a scarious 

 margin which is produced at summit. Panicle with lor 2 elongated branches. 

 Heads 3 to 12 or 15, usually from 5 to 9, globose, about 1 third of an inch in dianio- 

 ter, pedunculate, or sessile, densely flowered, with lanceolate acuminate bracts at 

 base. Perianth pale green, with scarious lance-ovate acuminate bracts at bai 

 which are often triful at apex, or toothed on each side the awn like point ; sepals 

 lanceolate, tapering to a very acute point, the outer ones keeled, or concave. 

 Stamens 3, or sometimes G, nearly as long as the sepals. Cajtsule oblong, trique- 

 trous, acute at apex, or with a short acumination. Seeds minute, oblong, striatCt 

 tawny yellow, with a scarious cauda, or arillus-likc acumination, at each end. 



Hab. Low, swampy grounds: frequent. Fl. July. Fr. September. 



Obs* This species, so remarkable for its globular bur-like heads, was unaccount- 

 ably overlooked, when my Catalogue was published. Michaux describes 2 xarie- 

 ties,— which Mr. Elliott says arc distinct species, and has described them accord- 

 ingly, under the names of J. polycephalus y and J. cchinatus. 



4. J. sTJBVERTiciLLATtrs, Wilhl ? Culm few4eaved, compressed; 

 leaves compressed, fistular, nOdose-articulatc ; panicle subcorymhose, 

 elongated ; flowers in dense capitate fascicles ; heads many-flowered, 

 pedunculate, or sessile ; perianth shorter than the triquetrous acumi- 

 nate capsule ; sepals linear-lanceolate, keeled, striate, cuspidate. Beck, 

 BoU p. 373. 



J. fluitans 1 Mx. Am. 1. p. 191. 



J, verticillatus 1 Pers. Syn % 1. p. 384. Pursh, Am. 1. p. 237. A'titf. 

 Gen. 1. p. 227. 



SUBVEHTICILLATE JtJNCCS. 



