Streptopus. 



MELANTHACEiE. 



323 



Stem about 18 inches high, once or twice forked above, terete, very smooth. Leaves 2-3 

 inches long, thin and membranaceous, clasping, acuminate, the margin finely but distinctly 

 ciliate with short cartilaginous hairs. Pedicels extra-axillary, one- (sometimes 2-, Nutt.) 

 flowered, nodding, from one half to three fourths of an inch in length, smooth or pubescent, 

 usually furnished near the middle with a short process or callosity. Flowers rather smaller 

 than in the preceding species, purplish rose-color : segments lanceolate, acuminate. Stamens 

 about half the length of the perianth : filaments short : anihers ovate-sagittate, terminating 

 above in two subulate points ; the cells opening along the outer edge. Ovary obovoid, 3- 

 celled, with several ovules in each cell : style rather slender : stigmas linear, short, somewhat 

 spreading. Ripe fruit not seen. 



Woods and swamps, particularly on mountains : frequent in the western part of the State, 

 and in some of the northern counties. Catskdl mountains. Fl. May - June. 



Order CXX. JUNCACEiE. Be Cancl. The Rush Tribe. 



Flowers mostly perfect. Perianth dry and glumaceous or rarely somewhat 

 petaloid, 6-leaved in a double series, persistent. Stamens 6 or rarely 3, inserted 

 into the base of the leaflets. Ovary 3-celled, or one-celled from the placentae 

 not reaching the axis : style single, sometimes very short or almost wanting : 

 stigmas 3, filiform. Capsule 1-3- ceiled, loculicidal, 3- or many-seeded. 

 Testa of the seed sometimes loose, forming an apendage at one or both ends. 

 Albumen fleshy. — Mostly grass-like herbs ; the flowers small, greenish or 

 brownish, in cymes or heads. 



1. LUZULA. Be Cand. fl. Fran. 3. p. 158; Endl. gen. 1047. WOOD-HUSH. 



[ Said to be derived from the Italian word lucciola, a gloworm ; because, when moistened with dew, the spikelets 



glitter like that insect.] 



Perianth spreading, glumaceous. Stamens 6 : filaments smooth. Ovary one-celled, with 3 

 erect ovules at the bottom of the cell. Capsule 1-celled, 3-seeded. Seeds 3, sometimes 

 with an appendage at one end. Leaves soft, flat, mostly hairy. 



1. Luzula campestris, Linn. Common Wood-rush. 



Cespitose ; leaves hairy ; spikes several, ovoid, somewhat umbelled ; leaflets of the perianth 

 acuminate, longer than the obtuse capsules ; seeds with an appendage at the base. — DC. I. c. 

 p. 161 ; Torr. fl. I. p. 365 ; Beck, hot. p. 373 ; Barlingt. fl. Cest. p. 231 ; Hook. fl. Bor.- 



41* 



