Some of the New Zealand species are wonderful features in the forest scenery of those islands; they form huge tufted masses, often as large as the human body, perched on the naked limbs of the most lofty pines; elevated as they are 80-100 feet above the ground, they remind the beholder of the nest of some gigantic bird.
XXVIII. JUNCEÆ, DeC.
JUNCUS. L.
1. Juncus antarcticus, Hook. fil.; pumilus, cæspitosus, culmo terete superne nudo foliis subæquilongo, foliis radicalibus e basi vaginante linearibus semiteretibus versus apices obtusos cylindraceis, floribus 2—4 capitatis hexandris, perianthii foliolis subulato-lanceolatis exterioribus concavis dorso acutis, stylo nullo, capsula perianthii longitudine triloculari. (Tab. XLVI.)
Hab. Campbell's Island; on the exposed summits of the mountains: alt. 1000 feet, rare.
Plantæ perpusillæ, vix unciam longæ, inter muscos cæspites densos formantes. Radix fibrosa; fibris elongatis, tortuosis. Culmi erecti, ¼—½ unc. longi, ima basi divisi, rarius parce ramosi, reliquiis foliorum vetustorum vaginati, foliosi. Folia plurima, radicalia, numerosa, sub ½ unc. longa, basi vaginantia, suberecta vel paulo curvata, e basi latiore lineari-subulata v. linearia, semiteretia v. superne obscure canaliculata, versus apices cylindracea, obtusa; basi vaginante elongato-ovata, medio coriacea, striata, marginibus subscariosis. Scapi solitarii, rarius bini, stricti, erecti, subvalidi, foliis breviores, post anthesin elongati. Flores plerumque 3, capitati, basi bibracteolati, unico non raro incompleto, altero breviter pedicellato. Bracteolæ ovatæ, acuminatæ, longitudine variæ, flores plerumque superantes, unica interdum subelongata, folium simulante. Perianthium 1½ lin. longum, castaneum, nitidum; foliola subæqualia; exteriora lanceolato-subulata, coriacea, concava, dorso acuta, vix carinata; interiora planiuscula, sublatiora, medio coriacea, marginibus anguste membranaceis. Stamina 6; filamenta latiuscula, plana, uninervia; antheræ oblongæ, subrecurvæ, apice brevissime unguiculatæ. Ovarium parvum, obovatum, turgidum, triloculare, in stylum non attenuatum; valvis dorso carinatis. Stigmata 3, sessilia, inclusa, lineari-subulata, post anthesin torta. Ovula plurima, angulo interno loculi biserialia. Capsula perianthio inclusa, castanea, ovata v. ovato-oblonga, subacuta, 3-locularis, 3-valvis; valvæ convexæ, medio dorso canaliculatæ, intus septiferæ; dissepimentis in axi capsulæ primo inter se cohærentibus, denique solutis. Semina plurima, quovis loculo 15—20, funiculis brevibus margini septorum adnexa, ovato- v. elliptico-oblonga, obtusa, flavobrunnea; funiculi incrassati, reliquiis filamentosis membranæ externæ; seminis circumdati: testa membranacea, pallide flavo-brunnea, obsolete striata v. reticulata.
This curious little species is allied to none with which I am acquainted; in size and general appearance it somewhat resembles the Luzula arcuata, Hook., of the Scottish Alps. The form of the leaves is that of Juncus castaneus, Sm., but they are in this plant solid internally and of quite a different structure. The capitate flowers and naked scapes are common to this, with the J. biglumis, L., J. triglumis, L., and with the following.
Plate XLVI. Fig. 1, leaf; fig. 2, section of central part of do.; fig. 3, upper part of do.; fig. 4, capitulum; fig. 5, flower; fig. 6, outer leaflet of perianth; fig. 7, inner leaflet of do.; fig. 8, stamen; fig. 9, ovarium; fig. 10, capsule inclosed in perianth; fig. 11, the same removed with the valves burst open; fig. 12, transverse section of do.; fig. 13, one valve of capsule; fig. 14, seeds:—all magnified.
2. Juncus scheuchzerioides, Gaud.; culmo brevissimo compresso basi fastigiatim ramoso, foliis erectis longissime lineari-subulatis compressis basi longe vaginantibus intus articulatis, scapo brevissimo foliis multoties breviore, floribus 6—8 capitatis hexandris bractea elongata subtensis, perianthii foliolis ovato-lanceolatis medio coriaceis omnibus planiusculis, stylo elongato, capsula perianthio
