REEDS AND RUSHES 



As the bee hurries down the canal to its nectar, its back is 

 first brushed by a narrow lip-like stigma and then dusted 

 with pollen. The leaves overlap in a curious way, and, when 

 they have withered, their stringy remains serve to protect 

 the fleshy stem. Orris root, which is used in perfumery, is 

 the stem of the Iris Jlorentina. 



Most of the other plants in this Flag series will be found 

 to have prostrate main stems growing under the water, but 

 giving off flowering and foliage stems which stand up above 

 it, so that the leaves and flowers are above the surface. 



In the next part of the pond, where the water is from 

 eighteen inches to nine feet deep, masses of reeds will be 

 found usually swaying, sighing, and whispering in the wind. 

 There are many kinds, such as Bulrushes, Phragmites, 

 Horsetail, Scirpus, etc. It seems to be the depth, the ex- 

 posure to wind, the character of the soil, and other unknown 

 factors, that determine which of those will be present. All 

 of them are tall, standing well above the water ; their main 

 stem is usually flat on the bottom of the pond, or floating 

 horizontally in the water, but giving off* many upright 

 branches. 



Floating islands are often formed by some of these hori- 

 zontal main stems breaking off* and being carried away. 

 Those Chinese who possess no land make floating islands of 

 such reeds for themselves, and grow crops on them. There 

 are hundreds of such islands in the Canton River. 



Beyond the reeds, one sees the large flat, floating leaves 

 and beautiful cup-like white or yellow flowers of the Water- 

 lilies. They grow in water which is not more than fifteen 

 feet deep. Their long stalks and leaf-stalks are flexible and 

 yield readily, so as to keep the flowers and leaves floating. 

 There are narrow submerged leaves as well. The actual 

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