298 JUNCACEAE. [ Juncus. 
smooth, naked, terminating in a 2-8-flowered head, rarely a second head 
is produced lower down. Bracts ovate, membranous, rarely longer than 
the flowers. Flowers crowded, about }in. long, dark chestnut-brown. 
Perianth-segments equal, lanceolate, acute. Stamens 3, rarely 6; anthers 
ovate. Capsule equalling the perianth, ovoid-trigonous, subacute. Seeds 
ovoid, obtuse, shining, obsoletely reticulate-——Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 290 ; 
Buchen. Monog. Junc. (1890) 432 ; Pflanzenr. Heft 25 (1906) 249; Cheesem. 
Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 729. J. pauciflorus 7’. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. 
ix (1877) 551 (not of R. Br.). J. brevifoluus T. Kirk-in Trans. N.Z. Inst. 
xiv (1882) 38QyL 
North Istanp: Rangipo Plain, near the foot of Ruapehu, Petrie! Waimarino, 
T. F.C. SournuIstanp : Nelson—Mount Arthur, Mount Owen, 7’. F.C. ; Lake Rotoiti, 
T. Kirk. Canterbury—Broken River, J. D. Enys! 7. Kirk! T. F. C. ; Tasman Valley, 
T. F.C. Otago—Not uncommon in the central and southern districts, Buchanan / 
Petrie!; Stewart Istanp: 7’. Kirk! AUCKLAND AND CAMPBELL IsLANDS: Hooker, 
T. Kirk! B. C. Aston! Usually from 1500-4000 ft., but descends to sea-level in 
Otago and the islands to the south. December—February. 
A very distinct species. The Campbell Island plant is said to have 6 stamens 
and the culms hardly longer than the leaves, whereas in New Zealand the stamens 
are nearly always 3, and the culms usually (but not invariably) exceed the leaves, 
I agree with Professor Buchenau in considering Kirk’s J. brevifolius to be a mere state 
of J. antarcticus. 
12. J. prismatoearpus R. Br. Prodr. (1810) 259.— Perennial, laxly 
tufted. Stems erect or sometimes decumbent and rooting at the nodes 
towards the base, leafy, compressed, often 2-edged, not jointed, 9-24 in. 
high. Leaves always shorter than the stems, 3-9 in. long, 74-4 in. broad, 
oradually narrowed to an acute tip, strongly compressed, flat, soft, multi- 
tubular, incompletely and often indistinctly septate ; sheathing base long, 
compressed, tip with 2 obtuse lobes. Cyme very large and compound, 
with 1 or 2 short leafy bracts at the base; branches long, slender, 
divaricating. Flowers $-}1in. long, greenish or greenish-brown, in many- 
flowered globular clusters. Perianth-segments about equal, hnear-lanceolate 
or subulate-lanceolate, acuminate. Stamens 3, much shorter than the 
segments. Capsule usually considerably longer than the perianth, pale, 
narrow, prismatic, triquetrous, l-celled; placentas very feebly developed. 
Seeds ovoid, apiculate-—Benth. Fl. Austral. vii (1878) 131; Buchen. Monog. 
June. (1890) 311; Pflanzenr. Heft 25 (1906) 180; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 
(1906) 730. . 
North Isutanp: Wet places in lowland stations from the Bay of Islands to 
Wellington, not uncommon. SoutH Istanp: Nelson—Motueka Valley, 7. F. C. 
November—January. 
Easily distinguished from J. holoschoenus by the strongly compressed stems, 
flattened and incompletely septate leaves, large spreading cymes, and by the stamens. 
being 3 only. It is widely diffused in Australia and eastern Asia. 
13. J. holoschoenus R. Br. Prodr. (1810) 259.—Stems laxly tufted, 
creeping at the base, strict and erect above, terete or subcompressed, 
smooth, leafy, 6-18in. high. Leaves few, equallimg or exceeding the 
stems, erect from a long sheathing base, tapering into a long acuminate 
point, terete or slightly compressed, fistular, completely and distinctly 
septate. Cymes terminal, sparingly branched, more or less contracted, 
usually of 3-8 fascicles, rarely more; bract at the base long, foliaceous, | 
usually overtopping the cyme. Flowers 10-20 in each fascicle, greenish, 
