MONOCOTTLEDONES. 



Ill 



membranous outgrowth, called the ligule. The flowers are 

 in spikes, racemes, or panicles, consisting 

 mostly of numerous spikelets ; each of the 

 latter is surrounded at the base by two 

 j_ glumes (Fig. 287), 

 above which are the 

 flowers. The pro- 

 tecting organs, or 

 perianth, consist of 

 an upper palet (Fig. 

 288) and*lower palet 

 (Fig. 288, Z^); with- 

 in are the (mostly 

 three) stamens, with 

 slender filaments and | 

 versatile anthers. 

 The ovary is simple, contains one 

 ovule, and has two styles, mostly 

 with feathery stigmas (Fig. 289). 

 The fruit is a grain, or caryopsis. 

 This is a very natural and large 

 order, containing about six thousand 

 species, to be found in all climates. 

 All other orders of plants 

 combined probably do not 

 contribute more to the 

 sustenance of man than 

 Wheat (Triticum vulgar e), 

 probably a native of Asia, has been in culti- 

 vation from time immemorial. Eemains of 287 



Fig. 285. Successive stages in the germination of Wheat ; r, roots; j', soil-parti- 

 cles; i/, stem. Fig. 286. Leaf of Grass. Fig. 287. Spikelet of Grass-floweis ; 

 £•/, glumes ; Jh, flowers ; p, palets. 



the Graminese. 



