4 INTRODUCTORY. 



may be only one, as in Cinna, or six, as in Oryza, or even 

 thirty, as in Ochlandra. 



The pistil contains a single ovary with a single ovule and 

 carries two styles on which are the stigmas, feathery (plumose) 

 in form as affording a large catchment surface for the pollen 

 shed by the adjoining anthers or carried by the wind from 

 anthers of other flowers. Sometimes, as in Nardus, there is but 



Ovary 



Inner 

 Glume 



Outer 

 Palea. 



Outer 

 Glume . 



Rachilla. 



Diagram of Spikelet. 



one style ; sometimes there are three, as in Megalachne of Juan 

 Fernandez ; sometimes, as in Briza, there is a rudimentary third. 

 Let us take another panicle. Finding that the grass is not 

 one of the six already mentioned (Melica, Molinia, etc.), we count 

 the florets in the spikelet and find that there are three or more, 

 and that they bear awns, these being the stiff bristles which in 

 cereals form the beard. If there had been only two florets, both 

 complete, the genus would be Air a ; if two with the lower without 



