juncace^:. 



873 



4. Baltic Rush. Juncus balticus, Willd. (Fig. 1019.) 

 (Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2621.) 



Rootstock more creeping than in any 

 of the foregoing. Stems very stiff and 

 hard, 1 to 2 feet high or more, often 

 prickly at the end. Panicle lateral, 

 more erect and much more dense than 

 in the glaucous i2., the flowers larger, 

 usually dark-brown. Perianth-segments 

 broader and not so pointed, especially 

 the inner ones, which are often quite 

 obtuse. Capsule about the same length, 

 obtuse, with a short style. Stamens 6. 



Chiefly near the sea, at high northern 

 latitudes, in Europe, Asia, and America. 

 Spread all round the Baltic and along 

 the eastern coasts of the North Sea. In 

 Britain, only in the northern counties of 

 Scotland. FL summer. It is probably 

 a luxuriant variety of the arctic B. (J*. 

 arcticus), a common plant in the ex- 

 treme north of Europe and Asia, and reappearing at great elevations 

 in the mountain-ranges of central Europe. 



5. Jointed B,ush. Juncus articulatus, Linn. (Fig. 1050.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 238, J. lam,procarpus, t. 2143, J. uliginosus, t. 801, 

 J. nigritellus, Suppl. t. 2643. J. acutiflorus, Brit. PI.) 



An exceedingly variable species in habit and size, but readily known 

 by its leaves, which sheath the stem below, and are cylindrical upwards, 

 and hollow, but divided inside by cross partitions of pith, which give 

 them, especially when dry, the appearance of being jointed. Flowers 

 in little clusters of from 3 or 4 to 8 or 10 or more, arranged in more or 

 less compound terminal panicles ; the outer bracts, and sometimes one 

 or two of the others, ending in a short, fine leaf. Perianth-segments 

 about the size of those of the common It., either all pointed or the inner 

 ones obtuse. Capsule more or less pointed, varying from the length 

 of the perianth to half as long again. 



Throughout Europe and Russian Asia, from the Mediterranean to 

 the Arctic regions, and at high latitudes in North America. As abun- 

 dant in Britain as the common It. Fl. all summer. In rich, moist, 

 deep soils the stems form dense tufts, 2 or 3 feet high, with loose, very 



VOL. II. 2 F 



