43 



CHAPTER III. 



CHARACTERS OF THE GROUPS. 



WitriRSXT 



Group I. Sheath Characteristically 



Coloured. Page 49. 



The colouring matter is formed in the basal parts 

 of the underground sheaths. 



Group II. Variegated Grasses. Page 50. 

 Ribbon grass or gardener's garter is the most n. 

 familiar example. It is a variety of reed canary grass 

 (Phalaris arundinaced) with a leaf blade composed of 

 alternating strips of green and white tissue. The 

 term variegated refers to the presence of these colour- 

 less strips in the green blade. 



Group III. Bulbous Grasses. Page 50. 

 The bulb is the thickened base of the shoot not at 

 all a root as commonly stated in books. 



Group IV. Cord-rooted Grasses. Page 52. 

 Normally, the roots of grasses are exceedingly fine IV - 

 fibres, whose purpose it is to absorb from the soil the 

 mineral matter necessary for the sustenance of the 

 plant. So-called creeping roots are not roots in the 

 botanical sense, but underground stems. The grasses 

 included in this group have thick and cord-like roots, 

 in addition to the fine fibres. 



