476 



THE NATURE BOOK 



on account of 

 this perennial 

 root-stock, and 

 the sevxn spe- 

 cies selected for 

 illustration in 

 this article all 

 possess that 

 characteristic. 

 The actual 



^1 



CRESTED DOGSTAIL. 



flower of the grass is 

 an almost microscopic 

 construction, and as 

 far as general recog- 

 nition goes, the term 

 includes the whole 

 collective outer cas- 

 ings of the flower 

 known as the flower- 

 ing glumes. They are 

 concave bracts that 

 protect a replica of the same idea of finer 

 tissue, termed the palea, which in turn 

 covers the minute flower itself. Many 

 botanical distinctions are focussed on the 

 varied forms or modifications of these 

 usually unrecognised sections of the plant. 

 As an average plan the flowering glumes 

 are arranged either in spike formation, 

 racemes, or loose panicles. The small 

 spikelets collectively forming the spike 



are generally constructed of three or more 

 bracts or scales — the lowest empty, the 

 upper containing the tiny flower within 

 the palea. It possesses two portions, or 

 petals, a one-celled, one-ovuled seed-case 

 with two or more feathery styles, and 

 from two to six stamens. It is stated, 

 however, with some sense of defeat, that 

 classification among the grasses, owing to 

 their great power of adaptability and 



consequent variation, 

 is a clifficult matter ; 

 they are regarded as a 

 difficult family with 

 which to treat. 



One further point in 

 the construction of 

 the flowering glume 

 should be noted, as it 

 adds so much to the 

 general character of 



CLUSTERED COCKSFOOT. 



t h e whole 

 spike or ])an- 

 icle in certain 

 species. The 

 glume ])osses- 

 ses a midrib 

 on the outer 

 c u r V e, a n d 

 this may, or 

 ma}' not, ex- 





MEADOW SOFT GRASS. 



