RESTIACEiE. 883 



LXXXV. THE BESTIO FAMILY. RESTXACE^. 



Herbs, differing from the Rush family in their unisexual flowers, 

 and in their ovules and seeds always solitary in each cell of the 

 ovary or capsule, and suspended from the top, not erect from the 

 base as in Wood-rush. 



A considerable Order, comprising, besides the genus Eriocaulon, 

 many Australian and South African genera, with a much more rush- 

 like or sedge-like habit. 



I. ERIOCAULON. ERIOCAULON. 



Aquatic or marsh plants, with tufted leaves. Peduncles leafless, with 

 a terminal globular head of minute flowers ; the central ones chiefly 

 males, the outer ones chiefly females ; all intermixed with small bracts, 

 of which the outer ones are rather larger, forming an involucre round 

 the head. Perianth very delicate, of 4 or 6 segments, the 2 or 3 inner 

 ones in the males united to near the summit. Stamens in the males 

 as many or half as many as the perianth-segments. Capsule in the 

 females 2- or 3-lobed, and 2- or 3-celled. Style single, with 2 or 3 

 stigmas. 



A large genus, widely distributed over the globe, numerous in South 

 America, and extending over that continent to the Arctic Circle, 

 general in tropical Asia, Africa, and Australia, but wholly wanting in 

 Russian Asia and Europe, with the exception of the single British 

 station. 



1. Jointed Eriocaulon. Eriocaulon septangular©, With. 

 (Eig. 1066.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 733.) 



The slender rootstock creeps in the mud under water, emitting 

 numerous white, jointed fibres, and tufts of linear, very pointed, soft 

 and pellucid leaves, 1 to 3 inches long. Peduncles from a couple of 

 inches to above a foot high, enclosed at the base in a long sheath. 

 Elower-head 2 to 4 lines diameter, with very numerous, minute flowers. 

 Bracts and perianths of a leaden colour, tipped with a few minute chaff- 

 like hairs. Perianth- segments 4, with a minute black gland on the 



2 g 2 



