ILLUSTRATIONS. 129 



imbricated or arranged so as to overlap each other like the 

 tiles of a roof, the endogenous structure common to all Mono- 

 cotyledons being therewith combined. 



Forming a considerable group in this glumaceous series is 

 the family of the Cyperaceous plants, represented by the 

 Great Common Sedge,* a tall grassy-looking plant found 

 commonly by the sides of rivers and watercourses. It is a 

 stout- growing erect perennial, with a creeping root stock, tri- 

 angular acute-angled leafy stems three to four feet high, and 

 long broadish grassy leaves tapering to a narrow point. The 

 flowers grow in longish spikelets, arranged in a racemose 

 manner at the top of the stem, which from their weight they 

 incline gracefully to one side. Of these spikelets, which are 

 several in number, the two or three upper ones are composed 

 of staminiferous or male flowers only, while the others consist 

 entirely of pistilliferous or female flowers. The former are 

 cylindrical, upwards of an inch long, formed of acute glumes 

 (chaff-like scales) lying closely over each other, and each pro- 

 ducing in its axil three stamens, the anthers of which have 

 a long point, and while fresh impart to the spikelet a yel- 

 lowish colour. The latter are cylindrical tapered at the point, 

 purplish, the lower ones stalked, all having leafy bracts, and 

 consisting of imbricated pointed glumes, each enclosing in 

 its axil an oblong-ovate ovary ; this is narrowed into a short, 

 broad, cloven beak, terminated by a three-cleft style, and be- 

 comes hardened into a somewhat three-cornered nut. The 

 Sedge family is a very extensive one, always having grass- 

 like foliage and something of the aspect of the species here 

 described, but differing considerably in stature, and in the 

 details of growth and structure. 



The other principal family of the glumaceous Monocoty- 



* Carex riparia Plate 21 a. 



K 



