158 FLOWERS OF LAKES, RIVERS, ETC. 



low-lying districts, and are a component part of the fen, marsh, and 

 bog. And in addition they are common to the still waters of lakes, 

 ponds, and pools, growing in the reed swamp. 



The tall, graceful stems and leaves of the Bulrush have a distinct 

 habit of their own. The stem is erect, leafless, round, spongy, sheathed 

 at the base. The leaves are long, floating, keeled or strap- shaped. 

 The cymes of flowers are in terminal compound clusters, at first lateral, 

 the stalkless cylindric spikelets having smooth fringed glumes, with 



Photo. A. R. Horwood 



BULRUSH (Scirpus lacnstris, L.) 



3 stigmas. The nut is egg-shaped and brownish, longer than the 

 4-6 bristles. 



The Bulrush is 8-10 ft. high. The flowers are at their best in 

 July and August. The plant is a herbaceous perennial, propagated by 



rnizomes. 



The flowers are bisexual. There are 6 perianth-scales in two rows, 

 and 3 stamens. The style is 2-3 cleft, and falls. The flowers are 

 proterogynous and wind-pollinated. 



The fruit is a nut, three-cornered, and when ripe it falls into the 

 water and is thus dispersed. 



The graceful Bulrush is practically always an aquatic plant. 



A fungus, Puccinia scirpi, attacks the Bulrush. Three beetles, 

 Erirhinus festucce, Donacia obscura, D. thalassina, and Lepidoptera, 



