470 THE RUSH FAMILY. [Juncus. 



Perianth-segments 2 to 2J lines long, scarcely pointed. 



Capsule narrow 11. J", pygmceus. 



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 I.J. compressive. 



Flowers many, in terminal cymes. Bracts long . . 8. 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 . . . . 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. Ft. 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. — Kesembles /. 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 Kussian Asia, but not quite so abundantly 

 as /. 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 

 /. 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 /. communis; the perianth-segments 

 about 2 lines long. Capsule shorter, obtuse, with a short distinct 

 style. Stamens usually 6. 



In wet situations, in northern and central Europe and Russian Asia, 



