LIFE HISTORIES OF FAMILIAR PLANTS 



become dwarfed, crowded, and insignificant, 

 because when insects are not required to assist in 

 pollinating the stigmas, the plant derives no 

 advantages by producing large and conspicuous 

 flowers. So long as the plant can so arrange its 

 blossoms that the wind can readily remove the 

 pollen from the stamens and distribute it amongst 

 the stigmas of other plants of the same species, 

 cross-fertilisation is effected, and the plant is enabled 

 to produce strong and healthy seed, and thus attain 

 its highest functions by maintaining the strength 

 of its species. 



Look carefully at Fig. 88 (Plate 62). Of 

 course the inflorescence of the quake-grass is quite 

 familiar ; even those who have never seen it 

 growing know it as a favourite decorative plant in 

 vases in nearly every home. Nevertheless, few 

 who observe its little, hanging spikelets of flowers 

 (for each scaly spikelet consists of six or eight 

 distinct flowers) ever think how perfectly adapted 

 is this delicate and elegant floral arrangement for 

 the functions it has to serve in the interest of its 

 species. Therefore, let us for the moment, forget 

 the aesthetic and ornamental aspect of the quake- 

 grass and consider only the utility of its structure ; 

 for, although we gather it on account of its delicate 

 beauty, yet the latter has no function in the 

 economy of the plant. The inflorescence it 

 presents to us is one most perfectly adapted to 

 wind-fertilisation, and the charm its delicate form 

 possesses for us, is purely a coincidence. 



We have but to consider attentively these 



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