GRASSES. ES 
of the stem, which is often hollow, though mostly 
filled with a soft pithy substance, which becomes 
harder as it nears the outer surface of the stem. The 
peculiar formation of the leaves of endogenous plants 
is also striking; the veins all run parallel to each 
other, mostly throughout their entire length, instead 
of branching off and forming the beautiful and 
prominent net-work so noticeable in others. To 
this order also belong a variety of plants differing 
widely from the grasses, such as some species of the 
Lilies, the Orchids, and many more, some of which 
will be mentioned hereafter. 
The stems of most plants are much branched, but 
the formation of the grasses is peculiar, the stalk 
being mostly tubular and jointed, and quite simple, 
except where, in some instances, it is parted to give 
place to a cluster of flowers. The leaves are very 
long and narrow, and the flowers are variously ar- 
ranged, sometimes scattered loosely upon the stem, 
as in the oats, sometimes in a short compact head, 
suspended from the ends of long and slender branch- 
lets, as in the Rattlesnake’s grass; and sometimes 
they are densely crowded at the end of the stem, in 
a lengthened spike, as in Wheat, Rye, and Timothy. 
Hach flower is composed of concave valves, placed 
one over the other; they are most conspicuous when 
the beautiful white, yellow, purple or scarlet anthers, 
which are hung gracefully upon their slender fila- 
ments, project from the lips of the corolla: the plant 
is then in bloom, and who does not admire a specimen 
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