SEDGE FAMILY 23 
overlapping each other on 1-many-flowered spikelets ; these 
are variously grouped in spikes, panicles, and so on. Fruit 
eae 
Q 
= 
Seek 
a 
= 
SS 
oe 
nia ia ee 
Fic. 4. Vernal grass (Anthoranthui) 
ul, a one-flowered spikelet: a, b, the outer empty glumes. B, a spikelet with the 
outer glumes removed: c, c, the inner empty glumes (neuter flowers) with 
long, bristle-shaped appendages; @, e, palets; anth., anthers: stig., stigmas. 
C, diagram of cross section of a spikelet: a, glume; ¢, palet. D, a fruit. 
(All magnified.) (After Cosson and De Saint-Pierre) 
a grain. (The family is too difficult for the beginner, but the 
structure and grouping of the flowers may be gathered from a 
careful study of Figs. 2, 3, 4.) 
5. CYPERACEH. Sepcr Famity 
Grass-like or rush-like herbs, with solid, usually triangular, 
stems, growing in tufts. The sheathing base of the generally 
8-ranked leaves, when present, is not slit as in grasses. The 
flowers are usually somewhat less inclosed by bracts than 
those of grasses; the perianth is absent or rudimentary ; 
stamens generally 3; style 2-cleft or 5-cleft. 
