EEL-GRASS. 



85 



larged and in full bloom is shown in side 

 view at c/, tlie three anthers and two stigmas 

 protruding. At h is a back view of a flower ; 

 c represents a spikelet of flowers. Acquainted 

 with these facts, we can see something of life 

 and utility in the breeze that sways the sedge 

 or listlessly fans the meadow. 



Some dioecious plants are not fertilized by 

 wind or insects. Along the borders of slow 

 streams, grow- 

 i n g two or 

 three feet un- 

 der the water, 

 the eel - grass 

 or tape -grass 

 is common. 

 The long and 

 narrow soft 

 green leaves 

 do not arrest 

 the attention of the casual passer-by, neither, 

 perhaps, do the peculiar clove-shaped flow- 

 ers, an inch long and greenish-white, which 

 float at the ends of long and slender threads. 

 When I have repeated the story of its be- 

 havior this plant may be deemed more wor- 

 thy of attention. The staminate or male 

 plant bears many very small and inconspic- 



Fig. 68. 



