JUNCUS. 



JUNCACE.E. 



331 



J. aristulatus, Michx. fl. 1. p. 192; Kunth, enum. 3. p. 345. J. aristatus, Pers. syn. 1. 

 p. 385 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 408 ; Pwrs/i, I. c. J. biflorus, £//. /. c. 



Stems tuberous at the base, 1-3 feet high, erect, compressed. Leaves few, 1^-3 lines 

 wide, acute, finely nerved. Panicle often very compound and elongated, longer than the erect 

 involucral leaves at the base. Heads 3 - 6-flowered ; the bracts at the base with subulate 

 points. Perianth with the three outer segments narrower, and tapering to a long sharp point ; 

 the others mostly obtuse. Stamens 3, inserted at the base of the outer segments. Capsule 

 trigonous-obovoid, very obtuse. Seed oblong-fusiform. 



Moist grounds, attaining the greatest size in sandy swamps ; frequent in the southern part 

 of the State and on Long Island. 



14. Juncus stygius, Linn. Large-fruited Rush. 



Stem filiform, erect, rigid, leafy ; leaves setaceous, slightly flattened ; flowers about 3 in a 

 terminal head ; leaflets of the perianth shorter than the oblong elliptical acute capsule ; seeds 

 with an appendage at each end. — Linn. sp. (ed. 2.) 1. p. 467 ; Willd. sp. 2. p. 215 ; Wahl. 

 fl. Suec. 1. p. 213 ; Gray in ann. lyc. N. York, 3. p. 233 ; Kunth, enum 3. p. 359. 



Root fibrous. Stem 6-12 inches high, simple. Leaves usually 3, a little rounded on the 

 back and flat or slightly channelled above, marked internally with slight transverse partitions. 

 Flowers larger than in any of the preceding species ; the head subtended by 2 - 3 bracts, the 

 longer of which nearly equals the head : the exterior about as long as the flowers, rigid and 

 mucronale ; the inner one membranaceous. Exterior leaflets of the perianth lanceolate, some- 

 what carinate ; inner ones pale and broader. Stamens 6 : anthers small, yellow. Ovary 

 tapering at the summit into a distinct style. Capsule triangular, pale brown, acute and some- 

 what beaked. Seeds about a line long ; the loose testa produced into an appendage at each 

 end, so that they are somewhat fusiform. 



In an extensive sphagnous swamp, bordering Perch Lake, Jefferson county {Dr. Gray). 

 This interesting species has been found nowhere else in North America, except in New- 

 foundland. 



15. Juncus trifidus, Linn. Slender-fringed Rush. 



Stem naked, filiform, 1 - 3-flowered ; sheaths ciliate at the throat, the lower ones leafless, 

 upper one with a short setaceous leaf ; involucral leaves 1 - 3 ; capsule elliptical, acuminate- 

 rostrate. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 326 ; Engl. hot. t. 1482 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 362 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. 

 p. 138 ; Beck, hot. p. 372 ; Kunth, enum. 3. p. 355. 



Rhizoma creeping. Stem 6-10 inches high, rather rigid. Leaf usually solitary near the 

 summit : sheaths with the ligule finely laciniate ; the lower ones with only rudimentary leaves. 

 Flowers mostly in a single head, with 2 long setaceous bracts at the base, resembling the leaf 

 of the stem. Leaflets of the perianth ovate, acute. Capsule about as long as the perianth. 

 Seeds elliptical. 



Summit of Mount Marcy, Essex county. Fl. August. This is a common species in the 

 northern parts of Europe. 



42* 



