WAYSIDE WEEDS. 179 



— " versatile " is the proper botanical term — tliree 

 in every distinct species of Britisli grass, but one, 

 the sweet-scented meadow grass, which, has only two 

 of these organs ; you will, probably, also observe the 

 little feathery stigmas protruding beside them. The 

 scales, or paleas, or valves, for they have all these 



Fig. 107.— floret of Uelis G-raas, showing festlierj gtigmas. 



names, which include the stamens and styles, are, as 

 you will observe, generally in pairs (Figs. 107 and 



Fia. 108. — Spikflet or Locusta of Meadow Soft Grusij ; a a, glumes 

 or involucre, inclosing florets. 



108) ; a number of pairs making up a Httle spikelet 

 {Fig. 108). From the extremities of the scales, 

 generally from the outer one, and often from its 

 back, arise long, thread-like projections, which 

 have the name of awns. Barley, rye, and the 

 beautiful feather-grass afford us some of the best 



