88 FERTILIZATION OF THE FLOWERS. 



close fertilized, are usujilly nupmopJiihiis, fertilized by the aid of 

 the wind. In a few cases, insects visit the flowers quite regularly 

 for pollen, and most likely render aid in the fertilization. The 

 writer has several times seen large numbers of honey bees, early 

 in the day, gathering the ])ollon of Festuca arnndinacea. 



Bnchlo'e (buffalo grass) is an example of those which are 

 ditocious, and of course the flowers are all (iross-fertilized. 

 Indian corn, Zizania (wild rice) and 7V/^ASfl',r////?. (gama-grass) are 

 monoecious and are very likely to be crossed. In some cases of 

 Tvulian corn, and probably it is so with some other species, the 

 flowers iiiv. profof/i/iiou.'^, i. c, the pistils come forth a day or more 

 in advance of the anthers. In other cases, as for example, sweet 

 vernal grass and meadow fox tail, the flowers are profcrandroiis, 

 i. c., the anthers mature in advance of the pistils. In either plan, 

 cross fertilization is secured. 



The spikelets of Arrhcnathervm avenaccum (tall oat-grass), 

 and others, contain a staminate or sterile flower to every perfect 

 one, and the flowers of Hierochloa horealix (vanilla grass), are 

 two of them staminate to one that is periect. The use of 

 these staminate flowers can only be for crossing. Some culti- 

 vated plants of A. a irnaccu tn hcav only ^ixwmmxic flowers. 



In many cases where the flowers are jierfect, the stamens shed 

 their pollen before the stigmas are ready, or the reverse is the 

 case. 



In some instances the stamens and pistils appear to mature at 

 the same time, as in most, if not all, sorts of cultivated wheat, 

 barley, oats and rye. In the three former, the glumes and paleaj 

 usually closely cover up the stigmas till they are fertilized or 

 covered with pollen. The glumes of rye spread so that cross- 

 fertilization may take place. A?nphicarpu}n, Oryza clandcstina, 

 some species of Hordetim find Cryptostachys, and most likely 

 others, produce fertile flowers below ground, and are callecl 

 chistogamic. 



