GLUMIFLORJ;. 291 



flower to the ordinary 3-merous Monocotyledonous type. Some authorities 

 consider the lodicules, which are present in all Grasses but absent in the 

 Cyperaceaa, to be homologous with a perianth. According to a more recent 

 theory they are bracteoles, and hence the Gramineaa, like many of the Jun- 

 caceaa, have 2-3 bracteoles placed in two rows in the median plane. If this 

 theory be correct, the flower is naked. The lodicules expand quickly and 

 cause the opening of the flower (i.e. the two pales become separated from each 

 other). Generally only 3 stamens belonging to the outer whorl are present (Fig. 

 290), as in Iris (Fig. 279), certain Juncaceae and Cyperaceae (Fig. 284), but in 

 some, such as the Eice and certain species of Bamboos, all 6 are found. 

 Pariana has more than 6. Only 1 of the carpels is present, namely, th<>, 

 anterior (of those in Fig. 284), so that the ventral suture and the place of at- 

 tachment of the ovule are situated at the back of the ovary. The number of 

 styles does not correspond with the number of carpels, and the styles may 

 therefore be supposed to arise from the edges of the leaf to the right and left a 

 position which is not without analogy. In addition, a stylar projection is some- 

 times found on the anterior side and in the median line (e.g. in Phragmites), 

 and the solitary style in Nardus has exactly this position ; a similar arrange- 

 ment is found in some species of B ambus a which have only one style ; other 

 species of Barnbuna have three styles. A tripartite style is found in Pharus. 



[The Grass-flower may be reduced to the ordinary Monocotyledonous type 

 thus : The outer pale is the bract of the flower since it bears in its axil the 

 floral shoot ; the inner pale occupies the customary position of the bracteole. 

 The fact that it is binerved can be explained by its having been pressed against 

 tbe main-axis during development. Similar binerved bracteoles are found in 

 Iris (Fig. 279). These bracteoles in both Grass and Iris arise from single pri- 

 mordia, and are not produced by the coalescence of two leaves. The lodicules 

 are the only parts of the perianth remaining, the outer whorl having been sup- 

 pressed, and also the posterior leaf of the inner whorl ; a posterior lodicule, 

 however, is found in the Eice and some species of Bamboo. The outer whorl of 

 stamens is usually absent, though this again is present in the Eice and Bamboo. 

 The three carpels are reduced to one with two or sometimes three stigmas.] 



THE FLOWERING. In the panicles the flowers open in basipetal order; 

 the flowers in the spikes situated somewhat above the middle, commence to 

 open first, and the flowering proceeds upwards and downwards. A few Grass- 

 flowers never open (cleistogamic) ; Leersia oryzoides, Stipa-species, and e.g. 

 Wheat and Eye in cold damp weather ; some open their pales so wide that the 

 anthers and stigmas may protrude at the top ; most frequently the lodicules 

 expand and force the pales suddenly and widely apart. The filaments elongate 

 considerably, so that the anthers are pendulous and the stigmas unfold. In 

 some Grasses, e.g. Wheat, the blooming of each flower only lasts a short time. 

 POLLINATION is generally effected by the wind. The Eye separates the pales 

 very widely in the morning, and allows the anthers and stigmas to appear ; 

 it is almost entirely sterile when self -pollinated. The Wheat flowers at any 

 time of the day, each flower lasting only a quarter of an hour. The pales open 

 suddenly, but only half way, and the anthers scatter one-third of the pollen in 

 their own flower and two-thirds outside. Self-pollination is effectual, but 

 crossing gives better results. In Hordeum vulgare (all flowers ) tne flowers 



