Rushes and Sedges 185 



The rush flowers are very dependent upon their 

 present messenger, the wind, for the pistils, in 

 most of the species, ripen first. So they are 

 ready for pollen before the home-grown pollen is 

 ready for them, and must use the life-giving dust 

 which is blown to them from older flowers. 



The ripe pollen is smooth and powdery, so that 

 it may readily be detached by the wind and 

 borne away, but the anthers do not sway at 

 the lips of slender filaments, as they do in the 

 thorough - going wind - fertilized blossoms of the 

 grasses. 



The seeds of the wood-rushes are matured by 

 midsummer. 



Those of the water-rushes are not ripe till 

 August or September. 



Both sorts are borne in dry capsules, which split 

 into three valves, setting the seeds free. 



But the wood-rush capsules have just three seeds 

 apiece, while those of the water-rushes contain a 

 large number. 



It is not uncommon for water-loving plants to 

 put a relatively enormous progeny forth upon the 

 world, for seedlings which cannot thrive unless 

 they keep their feet wet are peculiarly the victims 

 of chance and change. Many will begin life in 



