MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 29 



2-4 in. long, peduncles enclosed by the spathe. Perianth hairy, 

 blue, the upper lip with 2 yellow spots, tube 6-ribbed, curved, rather 

 longer than the lobes. Ovary oblong. In ponds and slow streams.* 



9. JTJNCACE^. RUSH FAMILY. 



Grass-like perennial or annual herbs, mostly growing on 

 wet soil. Stems mostly erect but sometimes creeping, simple 

 or branched, naked or leafy and jointed. Leaves cylindrical, 

 sheathing at the base, very slender and pointed or flattened 

 and grass-like. Flowers in cymes or panicles, which may be 

 very loose and spreading, or so compact as to form a head, 

 sometimes with a rigid scape prolonged beyond the flower- 

 cluster. Flowers usually bracted, perianth of 6 nearly equal 

 scale-like persistent divisions. Stamens 3 or 6, inserted on 

 the base of the perianth. Ovary free, 1 or 3 celled, many- 

 ovuled. Style single, stigmas 3, usually hairy. Fruit a 1 or 

 3 celled, 3-many-seeded capsule. [Most species flower late in 

 the season, and their identification is too difficult for one 

 without considerable experience.] * 



10. LILIACE^. LILY FAMILY. 



Mostly herbs. Flowers regular and symmetrical. Perianth 

 free from the ovary. Stamens nearly always 6, one before 

 each division of the perianth. Ovary usually 3-celled. Fruit 

 a pod or berry, few many-seeded. 



Except in the genus Trillium the divisions of the perianth 

 are colored nearly alike. 



