504 MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



2. Family. — Rushes (Juncaceae). Herbs ; roots 

 fascicled or fibrous ; leaves fistular, grooved, 

 or flat ; inflorescence often capitate ; flowers 

 umbellate, racemose, spiked or panicled ; 

 perianth 6-parted, glumaceous or cartila- 

 ginous; stamens 3-6 j anthers introrse, 2- 

 celled ; ovary 1 - 3-celled ; ovules 1-3, or 

 many in each cell ; style one ; stigmas 1 - 3 ; 

 fruit capsular, 3-valved ; embrj^o minute, 

 undivided. Inhabit principally colder climes, 

 reaching as far north as Melville Island. 

 Employed extensively in the manufacture of 

 mats, chair -bottoms, candles, &c. 



IY. ORDEB.— Xyridals (Xyridales). 



Perianth mostly 6-divided, the inner whorl peta- 

 loidal ; albumen abundant. 



1 . Family. — Mayacs (Mayacacese). Herbaceous, 



moss-like ; leaves very narrow, pellucid ; 

 flowers small ; perianth 6-divided, the outer 

 whorl herbaceous, short ; stamens three ; 

 anthers 1 -celled ; ovary of three carpels ; 

 style filiform ; placentae parietal ; ovules 

 sessile ; fruit capsular, membranous, 1 -celled, 

 3-valved ; embryo very minute, on the out- 

 side of fleshy albumen. Natives of American 

 marshes. 



2. Family. — Spider-worts (Commelynacese). Herbs; 



leaves flat, narrow, usually sheathing; perianth 

 in two whorls, the outer 3-partite, herbaceous, 

 the inner 3-partite or 3-fid ; stamens 3 - 6 ; 



