MONO CO T YLED ONS : LIL I A CE^E. 



66 1 



three styles emerge. Just below each perigynium is a slender scale, the 

 primary bract, from the axil of which the pistillate flower arises. 



Fig. 548- 

 Two carex flowers. 



Fig. 549- 

 Pistil of carex. 



Fig. 

 Section of pistil. 



For the study of the flowers one must select material at the time the male 

 flowers are in bloom. In fig. 551 is represented a portion of the staminate 

 spike of Carex laxiflora. As 

 seen here each staminate flower 

 consists of three stamens. 

 These stamens arise in the 

 axil of a bract. Figure 548 

 represents a portion of the 

 pistillate spike of the same 

 species at the time of flower- 

 ing The fact that the parts, 

 or members, of the flower are 

 in threes suggests that there 

 may be some relationship be- 

 tween the carex and the mono- 

 cotyledons already studied, even 

 though each flower has be- 

 come so reduced in the number 

 of its members. 



1153. In the bulrush (scir- 

 pus), another genus of this 

 family, the flowers are perfect 

 and complete (having all parts of the flower), with the parts in threes or 

 some multiple of three. Here there is a more pbvipus resemblance to the 

 mpnocotyledenous type. 



Fig. 55i. 

 Two male flowers of Carex laxiflora. 



