APPENDIX A 



501 



bearing numerous flowers in a compact cymosc group, with chaffy bracts. 

 The flower is constructed of : 



Perianth, segments 3 + 3. polyphyllous, inferior, dry and chaffy. 



Androechnii, stamens 3 + 3, free hypogynous. 



Gy-noedum, carpels 3, syncarpous, superior, with three long feathery 

 stigmas, united below into a short style. Ovary trilocular, with one ovule 

 in each loculus (Fig. 403, b, c). 



Fniit, a capsule dehiscent loculicidally. Seed with starchy endosperm. 



Fic. 403. 



JitHcus laujprocarpus. a, Part of an 

 inflorescence ; single flower (6) and gynoe- 

 cium (f) magnified. (Strasburger.) 



Fig. 404. 



Eriophormii atigitstifoliiijit. i, inflorescence. 2, a 

 single spikelet. 3, single flower. 4, flower with bract 

 removed, g, fruit. (After Hoffmann; i, about nat. 

 size ; the others ■. 3-5.) (Strasburger.) 



Pollination. The flower is strongly protogynous ; the feathery stigmas 

 project, while the perianth is still closed over the unopened stamens. Later 

 the stigmas wither, the perianth expands, and the anthers burst, setting 

 free the dry dusty pollen, which is readily shaken out, and carried away by 

 the breeze. There is no honey-secretion, or other attraction for insects, 

 but cross pollination is almost certain by the agency of w-ind. Self-polhna- 

 tion is prevented by the marked protogyny. Nevertheless fruit is almost 

 uniformly produced. 



