10 



ELEMENTS OP BOTANY. 



l-many-flowered spikelets ; these are variously grouped in 

 spikes, panicles (Figs. 183, 211 A), and so on. The fruit is 

 a grain (Fig. 9). 



(The family is too difficult for the beginner, but the struc- 

 ture and grouping of the flowers may be gathered from a care- 

 ful study of Figs. 210, 211.) 



CYPERACEiE, SEDGE FAMILY. 



Grass-like or rush-like herbs, with solid, usually triangular, 

 stems, growing in tufts. The sheathing base of the generally 

 3-ranked leaves, when present, 

 is not slit as in grasses. The 

 flowers are usually somewhat vh s/^jH 



less enclosed by bracts than 

 those of grasses ; the perianth 

 is absent or rudimentary; 

 stamens generally 3 ; style 2- 

 eleft or 3-cleft. 



Fig. 210. —Diagram of Inflo- 

 rescence of a Grass. 



g, sterile glumes ; P^, a flower- 

 ing glume ; Pg) ^ scaly bract 

 (palet) : e, transparent scales 

 (lodicules) at tbe base of the 

 flower ; B, the flower. 



Fig. 211. — Fescue-Grass {Festiwa 



A, spikelet (compare Fig. 210) ; B, a 

 flower, the lodicules in front and the 

 palea behind ; C, a lodioule ; D, ovary. 



