io6 



THE COLOURS OF FLOWERS. 



of parts in the two orders cannot, of course, be 

 denied. Some rushes, such as Ltisula, approach 

 very closely in general character to the grasses ; 

 and they also show themselves to be higher types 

 by the further development of the ovary, and the 

 decreased number of seeds. Eiiocaulon and the 

 RestiacecB give us a further step towards the grass- 

 like or sedge-like character. Some of the Cyperacece 

 show apparent relics of a perianth in the bristles which 

 surround the ovary, especially in Scirpiis (Fig. 42) ; 



Fig. 42. — Flower of a sedge (^Scirpvs). with six hypogynous bristles, representing the 



calyx and corolla. 



and perhaps the perigynium of Ca7'ex may represent 

 a tubular perianth, though this is far more doubtful. 

 In the grasses {Grajuinecu) the perianth is either 

 altogether obsolete, or else is reduced to the palese 

 with the hypogynous scales or lodicules (Fig. 43). 

 According to the most probable view (Fig. 44), the 

 two paleae represent the calyx (for the inner palea 

 exhibits rudiments of two sepals, thus making up, 

 with the outer palea, a single trinary whorl) ; while 



