70 THE FLORAL ENVELOPES IN GRAMINE^ AND CYPERACE/1':. 



C. ovalis. — The first bract on the secondary axis is placed 

 somewhat laterally, and bears stamens, and is similar to the bracts 

 of the other barren flowers, with the exception tliat it is more am- 

 plexicaul. It seems possible that this bract may represent the 

 ochrea. 



C. stellulata. — Here there seems to be an absence of an ochrea, 

 or of any bract that can be recognised as taking its place. The 

 first and lowest bract on the secondary axis is nsually placed 

 laterally and contains stamens. 



Carices : Monostachijcc. 



C. eluwjata. — The ochrea in this species appears to be absent, 

 or its place is occupied by the bract of a normal male flower. 



C. pulicaris. — There appears here to be no bract which can 

 be recognised as taking the place of the ochrea. There are several 

 sheathmg-bracts, Avith minute leafy appendage, on the stem, the 

 innermost being alternate with the first bract of the spike. 

 Possibly the ochrea is represented by this innermost sheathing 

 leaf or bract. 



In tliis species I have met with a barren flower 

 bearing two stamens with their filaments united, the 

 anthers being free, while the filament of the third 

 stamen was altogether free. 



The accompanying fig. shews the seta-like develop- 

 ment of the secondary axis within the utriculus. 



¥ig. IB. — Carex pulicaris : secondary axis at ibe base of the 

 uut being acicular in form or bristle-like. 



10 



SciRPUS. 



Scirpus si/Jvaticus. — In this plant every branch of 

 the inflorescence is furnished with an ochrea, even up to the last 

 simple spike. 



Cladium. 

 Cladium MciriscKs. — Here the ochrea is present at the base of 

 all the branches of the inflorescence, but concealed by the sheath- 

 ing outer bracts. The homology of the barren glumes of grasses 

 is here easily traced. Every ultimate simple spike of the inflores- 

 cence of this species is furnished with two bracts, similarly placed, 

 as are the barren glumes of grasses, the upper bract subtending the 

 lower one and alternate with it. 



Cyperus. 

 Cyperus lovt/us. — Here the ochrea is present, and the homology 

 of the infloresence of the grasses is as beautifully seen as in 

 Cladium Mariscns, the lower and upper barren glumes of grasses 

 being represented by the two lower glumes of each spike of the 

 flowers of Cyperus. 



Kobresia. 

 Kohresia caricina. — This plant, together with Klyna spicata, 

 illustrates the structure of the spikelet in grasses very beautifully. 



