1 82 Field, Forest, and Wayside Flowers 



to prevent a cylinder of delicate tissue from col- 

 lapsing." 



The same problem has occurred in the organiza- 

 tion of some seaweeds, and has been 

 solved by Nature in almost the same 

 way. 



There are no eccentricities or compli- 

 cations in the leaves of the wood-rushes, 

 which are flat, hairy and grass-like. 



The flowers of all the rushes are borne 

 in a large, loose cluster. 



This cluster generally tops the stem, 

 and beside the flowers are a pair or trio 

 or circle of slender, green spears, which 

 * ^ together constitute the " involucre." 



wise sec- T . r , , ,, ,. 



tion of In the common " soft-rush the m- 



the tubu- ,' . i i r 



larleaf of volucre consists of a single leaf. 



ty - leav" This pokes up aggressively, prolonging 

 ' the line of the stalk, so that the flower 

 cluster is thrust from its place and dangles down 

 sidewise. But, despite appearances to the contrary, 

 the blossoms crown the stem, after the custom of 

 the rushes, and all above them is a single " involu- 

 cral leaf." 



The flowers of the wood- and water-rushes are 

 all of the same lily- like type. There are three 



