GLUMAGE^. 



693 



Sub-class III. — GlumacecB or Glumiferce, 



Natural Order 284. — Ctpeeace^. — The Sedge Order {figs. 

 1074 — 1079). — Grass-like or rush-like herbs {fig. 218). Stems 

 solid, without joints or diaphragms, frequently angular {fig. 

 1074). Leaves with entire or closed tubular sheaths round the 

 stem (^^f. 1074). i^/otf7ersspiked, imbricated, perfect (^^gr. 1077), 

 or unisexual {figs. 1075 and 1076), each arising from the axil 

 of 1 — 3 bracts or glumes. The lowermost glumes are frequently- 

 empty or without flowers in their axils. Perianth absent, or 

 existing in the female flowers in the form of a tube (perigynium) 



Fig. 1074. 



Fig. 1075. 



Fig. 1076. 



Fig. 1074. A portion of the angular stem of a species of Carex, with entire 



sheath Fig. 1075. Staminate flower of a species oi Carex. st. Stamens, 



with long filaments and pendulous innate anthers, g. Scale or glume 



Fig. 1076. Pistillate flower of a species of Car-ix, consisting of a glume at 

 the base, and a pistil surrounded by an urn-shaped tube, m. (^Perigynium), 

 with a style, st, and three stigmas. 



(fig. 1076, m), or as hypogynous scales or bristles (y?^. 1077, b). 

 Stamens hypogynous {Jig. 1077), 1 — 12, commonly 3 {figs. 

 1075 and 1077)j anthers 2-celled, innate (figs. 1075 and 1077). 

 Ovary 1-celled, superior {fig. 1077), with 1 erect ovule. Fruit 

 indehiscent, 1- seeded (fig. 1078). Seed with fleshy or mealy 

 albumen {fig. 1078, alb); embryo lenticular {figs. 1078, pi, and 

 1079), enclosed in the base of the albumen {fig. 1078). 



Distribution, ^c. — Natives of all parts of the world, and 

 found especially in marshes, ditches, and about running streams. 

 y Y 3 



