352 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



linear and closely packed. The female portion is 

 black or brown, each flower being enclosed in hairs, 

 the hairs soft, brown, in tufts, without bracts, and con- 

 sisting of one carpel. The stigma is ovate to lance- 

 shaped, oblique. The style is longer than the bristles. 

 There is a single pendulous ovule, with the micropyle 

 towards the base of the ovary. In fruit the upper 

 part of the spike is a bare stalk, the lower thicker 

 with the maturing of the ovaries into nuts enveloped 

 in the rusty down. The ovary is at length stalked. 

 The fruits are small, one-seeded. 



From 3 to 7 ft. is the height of the Great Reed Mace. 

 It flowers in June and July, and is a herbaceous 

 perennial. 



The Great Reed Mace is a monoecious plant. The 

 flowers are wind-pollinated. As the males are above 

 the female flowers, however, self-pollination may 

 result, or cross-pollination if pollen be blown upon a 

 neighbouring flow^er. 



When the fruit, an achene, is ripe it is stalked, 

 the stalk being long and slender ; it bears long silky 

 hairs. This ensures dispersal to a distance by the 

 agency of the wind. 



Being a common and well-known plant Reed Mace 

 has a number of common English names, which, 

 according to Britten and Holland, are Baccobolts, 

 March or Marish Beetle, Blackamoor, Blackcap, 

 Blackheads, Black-puddings, Bullrush, Bullsegg, 

 Cat-o'-nine-tails, Cat's-spear, Cat's Tail, Cat^s-tails, 

 Club-rush, Dod, Dunce Down, Dunche Down, Flag, 



