22 



KEY AND FLORA 



Fig. 2. Diagrammatic 

 representation of a 

 several -flowered 

 grass spikelet 



,9, g', the glumes; p, 

 p', thepalets ; I, lod- 

 icules; /, a flower. 

 The axis is much 

 lengthened, to sep- 

 arate the flowers. 

 (After Schimper) 



Scapes erect, becoming longer than the leaves, cylindrical, 

 spongy. Flowers bisexual, in paniculate, 3-bracted umbels, 



small, white or pink. 

 Stamens 6-9. Ovaries 

 numerous in one or more 

 whorls on a flat recepta- 

 cle. Fruit 1-seeded akenes 

 which are ribbed on the 

 back and sides.* 



1. A. Plantago-aquatica L. 

 Water Plantain. Peren- 

 nial ; root fibrous. Leaves 

 ovate or somewhat cordate, 

 5-7-nerved when erect, float- 

 ing leaves narrower and 

 sometimes linear. Scapes 

 usually single ; panicle 1-2 

 ft. long ; flowering branches 

 whorled, subtended by three 

 narrow, striate bracts ; pedi- 

 cels slender, elongated. Ova- 

 ries 15-20 in a single whorl; 

 base of the short style per- 

 sistent, forming a beak at 

 the inner angle of the akene. 

 Akenes obliquely obovate, 

 2-3-keeled on the back. 

 Common in ponds and 

 muddy places.* 



Fjg. 3. Spike-lilie 

 panicle of ver- 

 nal grass (An- 

 thozanthum) 



4. GRAMINE^. 

 Family 



Grass 



Mostly herbs, with usu- 



a, mature anthers, ally hollow stems, closed 

 (Slightly enlarged) -i , , , , -, 



and enlarged at the nodes. 



Leaves alternate, in two ranks, with sheathing bases, which 



are split open on the side opposite the blade. Flowers nearly 



or quite destitute of floral envelopes, solitary, and borne in 



the axils of scaly bracts, which are arranged in two ranks 



