RUSA, a genus of Cervidx, or a sub genus of Cervus, with several species, from the East Indies. They are generally of large size, and have round antlers, with a snag projecting in front just above the base of each. There are several species, of which the best known is R. aristotelis, the sambur.
RUSH (Juntas), a genus of plants of the natural order Juncex, having a glume like (not colored) perianth, smooth fila ments, and a many-seeded, generally three-celled capsule. The species are nu merous, mostly natives of wet or marshy places in the colder parts of the world; some are found in tropical regions. The name rush perhaps properly belongs to those species which have no proper leaves; the round stems of which, bearing or not bearing small lateral heads of flowers, are popularly known as rushes. The soft rush (J. effusus) is a native of Japan as well as of Great Britain, and is cultivated in Japan for making mats. The common rush (J. conglomeratus) and the soft rush are largely used for the bottoms of chairs and for mats, and in ruder times, when carpets were little known, they were much used for floor covering. The stems of the true rushes contain a large pith or soft central substance, which is some times used for wicks to small candles called rushlights. There are 20 or 22
British species of rush. They are often very troublesome weeds to the farmer. Thorough drainage is the best means of getting rid of them. Many marshy and boggy places abound in some of the spe cies having leafy stems and the leaves jointed internally, popularly called sprots ' or sprits, as J. acutiflorus, J. lamprocar pus, and J. obtusiflorus. They afford very little nourishment to cattle; but are use-; ful for making coarse ropes for ricks. ' The stage was also strewed with rushes in Shakespeare's time, as well as the churches with rushes or straw according to the season of the year, and anciently rushes were scattered in the way where processions were to pass. To order fresh rushes was a sincere mark of honor to a guest. The strewing of the churches grew into a religious festival conducted with much pomp and circumstance. This ceremonious rush-bearing lingered long in the northern counties of England, and has been occasionally revived in modern times, as at Grasmere in 1884, etc.