BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
303 
GENUS I. 
THE FLOWERING RUSH. (Butomus, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. ENNEANDRIA HEXAGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Stamens nine, of which three are internal and petaloid. Ovaries six, with long beaks. Fruit capsular, 
dehiscing at the inner edge. Seeds linear-oblong, straight, with longitudinal streaks. ( Lindl .) 
Description, &c.— The name of Butomus is derived from two Greek words signifying to hurt an ox, 
because the leaves of the plant are so sharp that cattle are apt to hurt their mouths when they browse upon 
them. 
1.—THE COMMON FLOWERING RUSH. (Butomus umbei.latus, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., 651 ; 2nd ed., t. -579 ; and our Jig. 1, in PL 60. 
Specific Character. —Leaves linear, subulate, trigonous. Scape longer than the leaves. Spathe three-leaved. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This very handsome plant is common in ditches and ponds, where its large showy 
flowers expand in June and July. The leaves grow two or three feet long, and the flower-stem is longer than 
the leaves. The flowers vary in colour from crimson to rose-colour and white, but they always form a large, 
erect, umbel. The plant is a perennial, and the root is white and tuberous. 
THE ORDER RESTIACEiE 
Contains only one British plant, viz., the Jointed Pipewort (Eriocaulon septangulare , With.), which is not at all 
ornamental. 
CHAPTER LXXX. 
THE RUSH FAMILY. (Juwcblh, Dec.) 
Character of the Order. —Flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual. 
Calyx and corolla forming an inferior, six-parted, somewhat glnma- 
ceous perianthium. Stamens six, inserted into the base of the segments; 
sometimes three, and then opposite the sepals. Anthers two-celled. 
Ovarium one or two-celled, one or many-seeded, or one-celled and 
three-seeded. Style one. Stigmas generally three, sometimes only 
one. Fruit capsular, with three valves, which have the dissepiment in 
their middle, sometimes destitute of valves, and one-seeded by abor¬ 
tion. Seeds with a testa, which is neither black nor crustaceous ; 
albumen firm, fleshy, or cartilaginous ; embryo within it. (R. Br.) 
Description, &c. —There are three genera in this order. 
THE RUSHES. (Juncus, Lin.) 
The most ornamental species of this genus is the soft Rush ( J. effiusus, Lin.), the stems of which are 
employed with those of the common Rush ( J. conglomerate , Lin.) in making chair-bottoms and mats, while 
the pith is used for rushlights. The Sea Rush, the Jointed Rush, the Toad Rush, and the Moss Rush, or 
Goose-corn, all belong to the genus Juncus. The name of Juncus is from the Latin word Jungo, to join; 
because the fibres of some of the species are used in making cordage. 
THE HAIRY RUSH. (Luzula, Lin.) 
Some of the species of this genus are very pretty, particularly the common Hairy Rush (L. campestris , 
Willd.), which has rich dark-brown flowers with large yellow anthers. The name of the genus is taken from 
the Italian word for glow-worm, lucciola; because the anthers, when wet with dew, sparkle by moonlight, 
and gave the Italians an idea of these brilliant insects. 
THE LANCASHIRE BOG ASPHODEL. (Narthecium ossifragum, Lin.) 
This is a very handsome plant, with golden-yellow star-like flowers, resembling some kind of Iris rather 
