330 



JUNCACE^E. 



JlTNCUS. 



Stems cespitose, 12-18 inches high, striate. Leaves nearly cylindrical, with a deep 

 narrow channel on the upper side. Inflorescence consisting of several much contracted unequal 

 cymes, the flowers of which are distinctly unilateral. Leaflets of the perianth very acute, 

 greenish, about one-third shorter than the ripe capsule. Stamens 6. Style short, but distinct. 

 Capsule obtusely triangular, shining, completely 3-celled. Seeds elliptical, a little curved, 

 somewhat acute at each end. 



Sandy borders of salt marshes on the seacoast of Long Island ? Fl. July. Fr. August. 

 I have received from Mr. Tuckerman and Mr. Greene, specimens of this plant, collected at 

 Cambridge, Nahant and Plymouth, Massachusetts ; and both of these botanists considered it 

 an undescribed species. It is nearly allied to the preceding, but differs in its contracted 

 panicle, nearly terete leaves, short perianth and ovoid-oblong capsule, as well as the more 

 slender pointed seeds. I am not certain that this species grows on Long Island ; but I have 

 noticed there, without collecting it, a plant which I supposed was the Juncus here described. 



12. Juncus Gerardi, Loisel. Black Grass. 



Stem simple, leafy, compressed; leaves linear- setaceous, channelled; panicle terminal, 

 compound, cymose, longer than the bracteal leaves ; leaflets of the perianth oblong, rather 

 obtuse, a little shorter than the obovoid obtuse mucronate triangular capsule ; stamens 6 ; 

 seeds oblong-ovoid, without appendages, strongly ribbed. — Loisel. not. p. 60, fide Kunth, 

 enum. p. 352. J. bulbosus, Parsh, fl. I. p. 237 1 Muhl. gram. p. 201 ; Torr. fl. I. p. 363 ; 

 Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 139 ; Beck, hot. p. 372. J. cosnosus, Bich. in Linn, trans. 12. p. 309, 

 and in Engl. hot. suppl. t. 2680. 



Rhizoma creeping. Stems simple, slender, rigid, distinctly compressed. Leaves 2-6 

 inches long, scarcely half a line wide, rounded and striate underneath, channelled and minutely 

 reticulated above. Panicle rather crowded ; the branches very unequal ; the leaves at the 

 base resembling those of the stem, only much smaller. Exterior leaflets of the perianth 

 somewhat gibbous, the margin deep chestnut - brown ; inner ones with scarious margins. 

 Bracts small, obtuse. Style very distinct. Capsule dark brown when ripe, minutely pointed. 

 Seeds grayish brown, obtuse at each end. 



Borders of creeks and ditches in salt marshes : common on Long Island and Staten Island. 

 FL August. Fr. September. This species forms extensive patches, generally following the 

 course of the small rivers that meander through the salt marshes, and is easily distinguished 

 at a distance by its deep green foliage and the dark color of its flowers and fruit. It forms a 

 considerable part of our salt hay. 



13. Juncus marginatus, Rostk. Grass-leaved Rush. 



Stem leafy, jointed ; leaves flat and grass-like ; panicle corymbose, compound ; flowers in 

 capitate clusters ; perianth about as long as the obtuse capsule, the outer segments and bracts 

 somewhat awned, the inner ones obtuse. — "Rostk. junc. 38. t. 2. J. 3 ;" Pursh,fl. I. p. 236 ; 

 Muhl. gram. p. 202 ; Torr. fl. I. p. 362 ; Beck, hot. p. 372 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 230. 



