304 



EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN. 



RUSH FAMILY. JUNCACEAE 



This is a small family containing about 200 species of grass-like and sedge-like plants widely dis- 

 tributed, growing in tufts in moist land. (Fig. 27.) 



LILY FAMILY. LILIACEAE. 



Most people have some conception of the meaning of the word lily, though they may not recog- 

 nize onions as members of the family. The world over there are 1,300 species in a restricted 

 sense or nearly 1,900 in the broader sense. Botanists are not all agreed on this point. 



Some people would rank leeks found in the woods in early spring as weeds, Decause they taint 

 milk from wnich butter is made, though a few people like leeky butter. (Fig. 28.) 



Fig. 27 (28). 



Slender Rush. Juncus tenuis Willd. A 

 small plant, 15-40 cm. high; stern wiry; the 

 lower leaves about half as high as the stem; 

 some of the upper leaves projecting above the 

 flowers. 



In dry or moist soil, especially along roads 

 and paths, now spreading extensively in many 

 regions. Seldom recognized. 



Fig. 28 (29). 



Field Garlic. Wild Garlic. Wild Onion. 



Allium vivcale L. Like some other species 

 this oneTnot on y produces bulbs in the ground, 

 but in place of flowers at the top it has acquired 

 the habit of producing bulblets more or less. 

 The hollow stems are slender, a few in a bunch, 

 30-90 cm. high. Field garlic is slowly extend- 

 ing its domain into grass land and fieldsfof wheat 

 and is killed. with much difficulty. The bulblets 

 are about the size of kernels of wheat, and on 

 this account are sometimes sown with seed 

 wheat or ground in with the flour. ^ 



