-SIS 



EECREATIVE SCIENCE. 



examine grasses, are made up of a larger or 

 smaller number of blossoms. The peduncle 

 of tbe grass is often called the rackis, and the 

 stem is a culm. When a spike of flowers 

 droops, as it does in the poplar, hazel, etc., it 

 is called a catkin, and the fertile flower of 

 the hop (Fig. 57) gets the same name. When 

 in our next Handful you make acquaintance 



connection, not even a " Scotch cousin," of 

 its namesake, has its flowers — some of our 

 readers stare at the idea— in little clusters, 

 each one of which constitutes a glomeru- 

 lus. One of the most unique forms of inflo- 

 rescence, however, is the spathe (Fig. 60), 

 which is composed of an assemblage of blos- 

 soms inclosed within a sort of sheath or hood ; 



f^ 



Fio. 67. — ^Fertile Blossoms of Common Hop." a a, scaly flowers arranged in a catkin ; when ripe named a 



strobilus. 



■with the mint or labiate tribe of plants, to 

 which the common red or dead nettle (Fig. 

 58) belongs, you will find a still diflerent 

 flowering plan ; for the blossoms are collected 

 closely round the stem, in the leaf axils, 

 in little bundles properly called vertieil- 

 lasters, but often described as whorls. The 

 stinging nettle (Fig. 59), not the slightest 



as in the wake-robin — lords and ladies — so 

 common by English hedge-sides in early 

 spring, and most English children know it, 

 and will readily recognize what is meant. 

 Almost we fear to bewilder you with these 

 varied names and descriptions, which it 

 is difficult to make attractive to a beginner, 

 though it is well to get some knowledge of 



