4. J. Bálticus, Dethard, var. littoràlis, Engelm. Scape rigid (2–3° high); panicle loose; flowers larger (2´´ long), chestnut-brown with green; sepals ovate-lanceolate, the outer sharp-pointed, the inner obtusish, as long as the elliptical rather triangular obtuse and mucronate deep brown capsule; anthers much longer than the broad filaments; style about the length of the ovary; seeds rather large (½´´ long or more), nearly obtuse, delicately ribbed and cross lined.—Sandy shores, Newf. to Mass., west to Penn., along the Great Lakes, and westward.—Var. montànus, Engelm. Sepals nearly equal; anthers 4 times longer than the filament; capsule ovate-pyramidal, angled, beaked; seeds smaller, narrower, apiculate.—Minn., west and northward.
[+][+] Innermost sheaths leaf-bearing; stamens 6.
5. J. setàceus, Rostkovius. Scape slender (1–3° high); panicle loose, rather few-flowered; flowers greenish (2´´ long); sepals lanceolate, sharp-pointed, especially the 3 shining exterior ones, spreading in fruit, as long as the nearly globose beak-pointed greenish or light-brown capsule; anthers as long as the filaments; style conspicuous; seeds ({1/3}´´ long) almost globose, ribbed and cross-lined.—Va. to Fla., west to Mo. and La.
[*][*] Flowers in clusters, 6-androus; innermost sheaths at base of stem leaf-bearing.
6. J. Rœmeriànus, Scheele. Scape stout and rigid (2–3° high), its apex as well as the leaves pungent; panicle compound, open and spreading, brown; 3–6 greenish or light-brown flowers (1½´´ long) in a cluster; outer sepals lanceolate, sharp-pointed, longer than the obtusish inner ones, as long as the elliptical rather triangular obtuse mucronate brown capsule; anthers much longer than the broad filaments; styles shorter than the ovary; seeds ({1/3}´´ long) oval, obtuse, very delicately ribbed.—Brackish marshes, N. J. to Fla. and Tex.
7. J. marítimus, L. Resembling the last, but with a rigid contracted green panicle, an ovary attenuated into a style of nearly its own length, a greenish acute capsule which usually exceeds the acute sepals, and seeds with distinct tails and stronger ribs.—Known in this country only from Coney Island, N. Y., where it is apparently indigenous. (Eu.)
§ 2. Stems simple (rarely branched), leafy at base or throughout; leaves flat, or somewhat terete or setaceous and channelled, never knotted; panicle or head terminal.—Grassy-leaved Junci.
[*] Flowers in close heads (produced in late summer).
[+] Leaves thread-like, hollow; stamens 6; seeds few, large and caudate; the single head (sometimes 2) 1–4-flowered.
8. J. stýgius, L. Stems slender (6–16´ high) from slender branching rootstocks, 1–3-leaved below, naked above; heads 1 or rarely 2, of 3–4-flowers, about the length of the sheathing scarious awl-pointed bract; flowers pale and reddish (2½–3´´ long); sepals lanceolate, the inner obtusish, ¾ the length of the oblong acuminate capsule, as long as the slender stamens; filaments many times longer than the oblong anthers; recurved stigmas shorter than the style; seeds oblong, with a very loose coat prolonged at both ends (1½´´ long).—Peat-bogs, Newf. to northern N. Y., west to Mich. and N. Minn. (Eu.)