PHYSIOLOGY OF THE FLOWER. 117 
female flower possesses a nectary at its base. The lime blossoms 
in summer, is markedly proterandrous, and characterized by fra- 
grance and abundant nectar. Bees are excessively fond of it. 
Some smaller plants than those described are wind-pollinated, 
as docks, sorrels (not wood-sorrel), nettles, rushes, wild plantains, 
sedges, and grasses. 
Docks have numerous small bisexual flowers, arranged in 
terminal and axillary racemes. Lach flower can easily swing 
about on its slender pedicel. Both calyx and corolla are incon- 
spicuous, each consisting of three members, stamens six. The 
syncarpous pistil possesses three short styles, each terminating in 
a fringed stigma. 
Sorrels are similar, but the flowers are unisexual. 
Rushes possess small brown bisexual flowers, arranged in 
panicles, ‘and often proterogynous. All the floral leaves are in 
alternating whorls of three, viz., three free sepals, three free 
sepaloid petals, three outer and three inner stamens, on slender 
filaments ; three carpels, united into a superior ovary, with short 
style, and three rough spreading stigmas. 
Nettles (cf. p. 100) are remarkable for the elastic nature of 
their filaments, which, when the flower-buds open suddenly, scatter 
the light pollen in the air. 
Wheat may serve as an example of a grass. The inflorescence 
is here a compound spike, the bracts and bractlets of which are 
overlapping scales, known as glumes. Numerous 
spikelets are situated on the main axis, in two 
alternating rows. Hach spikelet possesses a short 
axis, bearing from three to five sessile flowers, 
also in two alternating rows. These flowers are 
in axils of glumes, termed lower pales (flowering 
glumes). Hach of these is produced into a short 
spine or awn (very long in barley). The two 
lowest flowers are rudimentary, and the large 
lower pales belonging to them ensheathe the base 
of the spikelet, and receive the special name of 
outer glumes. ach flower has an upper pale on 
: - : 5 Ei Fic. 50.—Flower of 
its inner side, and consists (fig. 50) of arudimen- ~ Grass, magnified ; 
tary perianth, three stamens, and a syncarpous 2, jodiculles; _ 
pistil. The perianth is constituted by two small _ thery ‘stigmas; e. 
scales, the lodicules, which expand when the  **#tile anthers. 
flower is mature, force the glumes apart, and allow the essential 
organs to project externally. The stamens, when mature, elon- 
gate very rapidly. ‘Their delicate filaments and versatile anthers 
are well adapted for catching the wind. ‘Two feathery stigmas 
grow from the top of the superior ovary. 
