CVI. JUNCACEiE 
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CVI. JUNCACE^E 
Erect or procumbent, trailing, usually perennial herbs ; root- 
stock scaly and fibrous, often creeping. Leaves linear, flat or 
cylindrical, often hollow and jointed, the upper surface sometimes 
channelled, base sheathing. Flowers solitary or in clusters, often 
panicled, small, regular, 2-sexual, usually green or brown ; clusters 
or panicles usually bearing at their base a leaf-like bract ; floral 
bracts short, scarious. Perianth inferior, dry, membranous or 
scarious, persistent ; segments 6, distinct, in two series, nearly 
equal, lanceolate, pointed. Stamens 6 or 3, hypogynous or at 
the base of the segments, filaments free ; anthers basifixed. 
Ovary free, 1- or 3-celled; ovules many or few; style straight, 3- 
branched at the top. Capsule 1- or 3-celled, enclosed in the peri- 
anth ; seeds minute, many or few. — Spread over nearly the whole 
world, but less abundant in tropical regions. 
Glabrous herbs. Capsule 3-celled. Seeds numerous . . .1. Juncus. 
Hairy herbs. Capsule 1-celled. Seeds 3 2. Luzula. 
1. JUNCUS. From the Latin jungo, to tie, referring to the 
use made of the stems and leaves. — Temperate and Arctic regions. 
Glabrous, usually perennial herbs, growing in damp or wet 
ground; stems often tufted, usually unbranched, leafless in J. 
glaucus. Flowers green, white or brown, shortly stalked, some- 
times solitary, usually in small clusters on the branches of a- 
panicle. Mid-rib of the 3 outer perianth-segments prominent. 
Stamens 6, in J. prismatocarpus only 3. Ovary 3-celled ; ovules 
many. Capsule 3-celled, usually 3-sided, 3-valved ; seeds numerous. 
The inflorescence of Juncus is sometimes viviparous, that is, buds are formed 
in the place of flowers, finally becoming detached and growing into independent 
plants. 
Stamens 6. 
Stamens shorter than the perianth. 
Stems leafy. 
Leaves flat . . . . . . . . 1 . J. bufonius. 
Leaves cylindrical 3 . J. lamprocarpus. 
Stems leafless 2 . J. glaucus . 
Stamens longer than the perianth. 
Flowers dark brown . . . . . . 5. J. himalensis. 
Flowers white 6 . J. concinnus. 
Stamens 3 ......... 4. J. prismatocarpus. 
* 1. Juncus bufonius, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 392. A small, 
pale-coloured, tufted herb ; stems 1-10 in., slender, branching from 
near the base. Leaves, few, chiefly radical, stem-leaves shorter. 
Flowers solitary or in small clusters, sessile on the stem or 
