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CEREALS 



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Fig. 1. — Tlic (jat [Anna xntiva. 

 Grass Fiimily, Graminet^). 

 Plant in flower, showing sev- 

 eral leafy stalks growing from 

 one root. Three of the stalks 

 bear flower-elnsters. About 

 one-fifth natural size. (Bail- 

 lon.) 



guishod ( 1 j a lower swollen part, 

 the ovanj, containing a small egg- 

 shaped body, the ()r]ile: (2) a pair 

 of elongated middle parts, the 

 stijlcK, eaeh connecting the ovary 

 with i'-i) a free, terminal part, 

 the Ktirimit, whicli is here like a 

 little plume. Around the pistil 

 are three stamens very like what 

 are commonly met with in other 

 flowers. Each stamen consists 

 of (1) a doul)le sac, the anther, 

 in which are jirotluced innum- 

 eraljle dust-like particles, the 

 pollen, and (2) a threadlike part, 

 the Jilennent, on the upper end of 

 which the anther is bf)rne. When 

 the anther is ripe it sheds its 

 pollen, a ])article of which com- 

 ing to rest upon an (jat stigma 

 brings about the ripening of the 

 o^'ule into a seed. As the ovule 

 ripens, the ovary enlarges to keep 

 pace with it, forming at last for 

 the seed a firm protective cover- 

 ing which together with the seed 

 constitutes the <jmin. ]\Iean- 

 while the styles, stigmas, and 

 stamens, having fulfilled their 

 oflice, wither and fall off. The 

 ripened ovary and its contents 

 together with what(>ver parts 

 ripen in connection with it (in 

 this case two husks) eonstitute 

 the Jniit. 



Since tlie i)ur]iose of tlie flower 

 is to f<.)rm seeds, and this is ac- 

 c(jmplished by means of stamens 

 and pistils, these are called the 



