PLANT FAMILIES: CYPERACE&. 



26l 



is a slender scale, the primary bract, from the axil of which the pistillate 

 flower arises. 



Fig. 337- 

 Two carex flowers. 



Fig. 338. 

 Pistil of carex. 



Fig. 339- 

 Section of pistil. 



For the study of the flowers one must select material at the time the male 

 flowers are in bloom. In fig. 340 is represented a portion of the staminate 

 spike of Carex laxiflora. As 

 seen here each staminate flower 

 consists of three stamens. These 

 stamens arise in the axil of a 

 bract. Figure 337 represents 

 a portion of the pistillate spike 

 of the same species at the time 

 of flowering. The fact that the 

 parts, or members, of the flower 

 are in threes suggests that there 

 may be some relationship be- 

 tween the carex and the monoco- 

 tyledons already studied, even 

 though each flower has become 

 so reduced in the number of its 

 members. 



508. In the bulrush (scirpus), 

 another genus of this family, the 



flowers are perfect and complete Fig. 340. 



(having all parts of the flower), Two male flowers of Carex laxiflora - 



with the parts in threes or some multiple of three. Here there is a more 

 obvious resemblance to the monocotyledenous type. 



