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DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



THE EUSH AND POND- WEED ALLIANCE. 

 The Rush Family. 



(JUNCACE^.) 



Stemless herbaceous plants with leaves and flower-stalks 

 rising from a creeping rhizome-like root, or with a decumbent 

 or erect palm like stem. Leaves flat (generally channelled) 

 cylindrical, or triquetrous. Flowers in spikes, panicles, or 

 compound heads. Sepals and petals glumaceous, sometimes 

 coloured yellow or blue. Fruit usually a dry 3-valved 

 capsule with nut-like seeds. 



This family consists of about 200 species, widely distributed 

 over both hemispheres and widely diverse as to habit. In 

 the northern hemisphere they are represented by diiFerent 

 species of Rush (^Juncus), some of which extend to the Arctic 

 regions. About 20 species are natives of Britain, the most 

 abundant being J. effusiis, J. conglomeratus^ and J. acutus, 

 which grow in ditches and marshy places. 



They are extensively used for making chair bottoms, 

 hassocks, mats, baskets, and the pith is used as " wicks" for 

 ''rushlights," or night-candles. They are but little used 

 either for food or medicinally. 



Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum). A beautiful, perennial 

 native plant, with leaves like a leek, and pretty yellow 

 flowers. It was supposed to cause disease in sheep, and 

 hence received the specific name " ossifragum," which means 

 " bone breaking." 



Palmet {Prionium palmitd). A remarkable plant, native 

 of S. Africa, growing in deep waters ; it has serrated leaves 

 2 — 3 feet long and about 1 inch broad, which by their suc- 

 cessive development and sheathing bases form a stem, which 

 varies in length according to its age, from 6 — 12 feet, 

 and 3 inches in diameter. It generally lies slanting in the 

 water, with its crown of leaves rising above the surface, and 

 when numerous the water has the appearance of a field of 

 pineapple plants. The whole stem consists of a fine fibre, 



