Page:Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Volume 10.djvu/32

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Read November 1, 1808.
In the course of a morning's walk having been fortunate in an opportunity of examining the knotty-leaved division of the genus Juncus, by finding all the species on nearly the same spot, I am induced to request leave to lay before the Linnean Society the result of my observations.
Here then I must premise, that the want of an opportunity of examining them in a proper state, and comparing them together, I take to have been the cause that what seem to me to be distinct species have been treated as varieties only, by men of eminence in the science of botany.
In consequence of the attention which I bestowed on them, I am much inclined to suppose that I can determine into three very distinct species, what have been deemed two varieties only of the species J. articulatus, Linn. Sp. Pl., Sm. Fl. Brit., and Leers Fl. Herborn.; but are considered as two species, indeed, by Dr. Sibthorp, viz. compressus and nemorosus; and two species, likewise, by Mr. Relhan, viz. compressus and articulatus.
My three species I shall at present distinguish as first, second, and third.
In the first the branches of the panicle are strong, erect, fewer, and less diffuse than in the other two; the capsule is large, of a deep reddish brown colour, and finely glossed; of
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