228 AUTUMN WILD FLOWERS. 



much sought after once for strewing in churches, in 

 consequence of its fragrance. Here we cannot enter 

 upon the distinctive features of the numerous tribe 

 of Eushes, or do more than point out the graceful 

 Cyperus Sedge, which nods its head by the river-side, 

 or the more upright and sturdy Common Sedge. (See 

 ante, 147.) The leading characteristics of the Sedge 

 family we pointed out when treating of grassy nooks. 

 Above them all the handsome Eeedmace (Typlia lati- 

 folia) rears its tall catkin, so long, fleshy, and round. It 

 is sometimes confounded with the bulrush, but is alto- 

 gether a different plant. Its leaves are often an inch 

 wide and a yard long, and the catkin is mounted on a 

 stalk occasionally five or six feet long. The Common 

 Eeed (PTiragmites communis) which bears a feathery 

 spray of light brown down, is also a neighbour of the 

 sedge and reedmace in the marshy pool. The Bur Eeed 

 (Sparganium ramosum), with its singular-looking balls 

 of flowers on the tall stem, also forms a feature in the 

 river-side landscape. 



Three or four yellow flowers continue to bloom until 

 far into the autumn. The somewhat rare, but once 

 common Elecampane (Inula helenium), with its single 

 terminal yellow-rayed flower, may sometimes be found. 



