470 : THE RUSH FAMILY, 
Perianth-segments 2 to 23 lines long ditiiicns: pee 
Capsule narrow . 11. J. pygmeeus. 3 
Perianth-segments under 2 lines, with a fine, often re- ‘ 
curved point. Capsule short and broad . : . 12. J. capitatus. 
Perennials. Flowers brown. 
Flowers several, distinct, in a loose panicle. Outer bract 
short ; . 7. J. compressus. 
Flowers many, in terminal cymes. Bracts long : . & J. tenuis. 
Flowers very few on each stem, distinct. Outer bracts 
very long and slender . . ; . 15. J. trifidus. 
Flowers 6 or 8 together in terminal heads . P ‘ . 16. J. castaneus. 
These species are well distributed into two sections. In the one, 
comprising the first ten of the following species, the seeds are ovate or 
oblong, scarcely-pointed. In the second section, to which belong the 
last five species (11 to 15), the testa of the seed is extended at each 
end into a little tail-like appendage. 
1. J. communis, Mey. (fig. 1060). Common R.—The shortly creep- 
ing matted rootstock bears dense tufts of cylindrical leafless stems 
with solid pith, 2 to 3 feet high or even more, erect, but soft and 
pliable, sheathed at the base by a few brown scales. Some of these © 
stems remain barren so as to resemble leaves; others bear, on one side, 
at 4 to 6 or 8 inches below the top, a densely-clustered panicle of small 
green or brown flowers ; the very numerous peduncles vary from a line 
or two to above an inch in length, the central smaller ones have but 
2 or 3 flowers, the others a considerable number in irregular cymes. 
Perianth-segments about a line long, very pointed. Capsule about as 
long, very obtuse or even notched. Stamens usually 3 only. 
In wet situations, almost all over the northern hemisphere and in 
many parts of the southern one. In Britain, one of the commonest 
species. Fl. summer. Two extreme forms are usually distinguished as 
species, J. conglomeratus, Linn., with the flowers densely packed in 
close clusters of about an inch diameter, usually brown ; and J. effusus, 
Linn., with the panicles much looser, often 2 to 3 inches diameter, and 
paler coloured; but every gradation may be observed between them in 
this respect, as well as in other minute characters which have been 
assigned to them respectively. 
2. J. glaucus, Ehrh. (fig. 1061). Hard R.—Resembles J. communis ~ 
in its main characters, but the stems are seldom 2 feet high, and 
although thinner, yet harder and stiffer, darker green, striate and often 
glaucous, pith chambered ; the panicles but 2 or 3 inches below the 
top; the flowers rather larger, in a much looser and less branched 
panicle. Capsule of a shining brown, never flattened or hollowed at 
the top, but rounded or almost pointed. Stamens usually 6. 
Spread over Europe and Russian Asia, but not quite so abundantly 
as J. communis. Extends all over Britain. Fl. summer. [J. diffusus, 
Hoppe, is a hybrid with J. effusus, having less glaucous leaves and 
imperfect seeds. ] 
3. J. filiformis, Linn. (fig. 1062). Thread R.—Stems as soft as in 
J. communis, but very slender, and seldom much above a foot high. 
Clusters of flowers small, usually not above halfway up the stem ; the 
flowers few, much larger than in J. communis; the perianth-segments ~ 
about 2 lines long. Capsule shorter, obtuse, with a short distinct 
style. Stamens usually 6. 7 
In wet situations, in northern and central Europe and Russian Asia, E 
