78 ELEMENTS OF STRCCTURAL BOTANT. 



CHAPTEE XIV. 



EXAMINATION OP GLUMACBOUS PLANTS — TIMOTHY AND 

 OTHER GRASSES. 



100. Timothy. ThS top of a stalk of this Veil- 

 known grass is cylindrical in shape, and upon examina- 

 tion will be found to consist of a vast number of similar 

 pieces compactly arranged on very short pedicels about 



the stalk as an axis. Carefully separate one of 

 these pieces 'from the rest, and if the grass has 

 not yet come into flower the piece will present 

 the appearance shown in Kg. 101. In this 

 Fig. the three points in the middle are the pro- 

 truding ends of stamens. The 

 piece which you have separated is, in 

 fact, a flower enclosed in a pair of bracts, 

 and all the other pieces which go to 

 make up the top are flowers also, and, 

 except perhaps a few at the very sum- 

 mit of ttie spike, precisely similar to this ^ig. 102. 

 one in their structure. 



101. Fig. 102 is designed to help you in dissecting a 

 flower which has attained a greater degree of development 

 than the one shown in Fig. 101. Here the two bracts 

 which enclose the flower have been drawn asunder. To 

 these bracts the name glumes is applied. They are 

 present in all plants of the Grass Family, and ai'e often 



Fig. 101 Closed flower of Timothy. 



Fig. 102.— Expanded flower of tiie Eamc. 



