216 



MANUAL OF BOTANY 



Fig. 990. 



world, and found especially in marshes, ditches, and about 

 running streams. Ilhistrative Genera : — Carex, Linn. ; Cyperus, 

 Linn. ; Scirpus, Linn. There are about 2,000 species. 



Pro])erties and Uses. — Although closely allied in their bota- 

 nical characters to the Graminaceae, the Cyperaceae are alto- 

 gether deficient in the nutritive and other qualities which 

 render the plants of the Graminaceae so eminently serviceable 

 to man and other animals. Indeed the order generally is 



remarkable for the absence of any 

 important properties. Some of the 

 plants are slightly aromatic, sto- 

 machic, and diaphoretic, others 

 demulcent and alterative, and a few 

 have been used for economic pur- 

 poses. The underground stems of 

 certain species are edible when 

 roasted or boiled. Some of the 

 species by spreading and interlacing 

 their subterranean stems through 

 the sand of the sea-shore, and thus 

 binding it together, prevent it from 

 being washed away hy the receding 

 waves, and in this way protect the 

 neighbouring coast from encroach- 

 ments of the sea. (See also Pro- 

 perties and ZJses of the Grami- 

 nacece.) 



Order 39. Graminace^, the 

 Grass Order.- C h a r a c t e i\-Herbs, 

 shrubs, or arborescent jplants, with 

 round, commonl}^ hollow, jointed 

 stems. Leaves alternate, with 

 parallel veins and split sheaths, and 

 with a ligule at the base of the lamina. Flowers herma- 

 phrodite or unisexual, arranged in spiked, panicled, or racemose 

 locustae ; or solitary. No true perianth, its place being supplied 

 by imbricate bracts, of which there are commonlj^ 2, called 

 glumes, or rarely 1 {fig. 992) ; these glumes are placed at the 

 base of the solitar^^ flower, or at the base of each locusta. 

 Occasionally the glumes are altogether absent. Each flower is 

 also usually furnished with two other alternate bracts {i^alecB) 

 (or sometimes the inner palea, ^J^, is wanting), the outer 

 palea is frequently termed the floivering glume ; and 2 or 3 



Fig. 990. A portion of the stem 

 of the Cat's-tail G-rass {Phleum 

 prafen^e), bearing a leaf with 

 parallel veins, and a split 

 sheath. 



