346 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



Eriocaulon septangulare. — In Fig. 96 note the 

 tufted rosette habit, radical leaves, and long scape, with 

 flowers in a terminal head. 



NUDIFLOR^. 



In this group the perianth is either rudimentary or 

 absent. The ovary is superior, syncarpous or mono- 

 carpellary. 



It includes the Reed Mace group, Cuckoo Pint 

 group, and Duckweed group. 



In the first the plant is monoecious, in the second 

 the flowers are bisexual or unisexual. The flowers 

 are in catkins or heads in the Reed Mace group, in 

 a spadix in the Cuckoo Pint group, embedded in the 

 frond in the Duckweeds. The perianth is absent or 

 consists of scales in the Reed Mace group, absent or 

 scale-like in the Cuckoo Pint group. The stamens 

 are numerous in the Reed Mace group, few or 

 numerous in the Cuckoo Pint group, one to two in 

 the Duckweeds. The ovary is one- to two-celled in 

 the Reed Mace group, one- (or more) celled in the 

 Cuckoo Pint group, one-celled in the Duckweeds. 

 The fruit is a drupe or utricle in the Reed Mace 

 group, a berry in the Cuckoo Pint group. 



Flowers are rare in the Duckweeds and always 

 minute. 



The Reed Mace group includes marsh or aquatic 

 plants, and the Duckweeds are aquatic. 



