20 VIGNETTES FROM NATURE. 



head of flowers at the top, and all the pistils 

 in another head at the bottom. Look closely 

 into this plant again, and you will see at 

 once that it has gone even further than the 

 woodrush on the downward path of degrada- 

 tion. It has no trace of petals at all ; 

 indeed, it is possible that it has never had 

 any ; though, judging from its close relations 

 and the numerous intermediate forms, it is 

 more likely that it once had them, but has 

 now hopelessly lost them as hopelessly as 

 the snake has lost its legs. However this 

 may be, the flowers of the sedge are now 

 arranged in a thoroughly business - like 

 manner for wind fertilisation. Each stalk 

 bears three or four little branching spikelets, 

 the top spikelet consisting altogether of 

 yellow stamens, covered in groups of three 

 by single russet-black scales, while the lower 

 spikelets consist altogether of pistils, with 

 two or three white feathery plumes hanging 

 out to catch the pollen, and similarly covered 

 by dark sheathing bracts. The whole head 



