JUNCUS Forsten.
Narrow-leaved H a iry Rush.
HEXANDRIA Monogynia.
Gen. Char. Cal. of 6 leaves, permanent. Cor. none.
Caps, superior, of 3 valves, with 1 or 3 cells.
Seeds several. Stigmas 3.
Spec. Char. Leaves flat, hairy. Panicle cymose, erect.
Flowers solitary. Capsules sharp-pointed.
Syn. Juncus Forsteri. Sm. FI. Brit. 1395.
M r . EDWARD FORSTER first observed this Juncus in
1795, growing intermixed with J. pilosus, under trees between
Hoghill and Collier-row in Hainhault forest, Essex. Several
years’ attention to it, both wild and cultivated, have convinced
him of its being really a distinct species, and we readily assent
to his opinion. We have moreover gathered it in the woods
at Hafod, Cardiganshire, growing among the common J. pilosus,
and flowering in May; but were not aware of its distinctions
till Mr. Forster pointed them out.
The root is perennial, blackish, fibrous, scarcely creeping.
Stems 8 to 12 inches high, erect, simple, slender, round,
polished, leafy. Leaves linear-lanceolate, acute, not half so
broad as in J. pilosus, hairy, as in that species, at their margin
towards the base 5 those which grow on the stem are larger
than the radical ones, which is not the case in the species just
mentioned. Panicle terminal, cymose, compound; all the
branches nearly upright, by no means divaricated or bent
backward like t . 736. Calyx-leaves much more pointed than in
that species. The capsule also is acute, not obtuse, and terminates
in a longish beak. Seeds l in each cell.