MONOCOTYLBDONES 



215 



some species have been used for basket-making, &c., and for 

 thatching. 



Order 38. CypbeacbjE, the Sedge Order. — Character. — 

 G-rass-like or rush-like, usually perennial herbs. Stems solid, 

 without joints or partitions, frequently angular, isaves without 

 ligules, and with entire or closed sheaths round the stem. 

 Flowers spiked, imbricate, hermaphrodite or unisexual, each 

 arising from the axil of 1 — 3 bracts or glumes. {The lowermost 

 glumes a/re frequently empty, that is, ivithout flowers in their 

 axils.) Perianth absent, or existing in the female flowers in the 

 form of a tube (perigyniuin), or as hypogjTious scales or bristles. 



Fio. 988. 



Fig. 989. 



Fig. 987. Hermaplirodite flower of a species ot 

 Club-rush i^^cirpus), the glume haying been 

 removed, h. Hypogynous setse or bristles form- 

 ing a kind of perianth, st. Hypogynous stamens 

 with 2-celled innate anthers, o. Ovary, s. Style. 



stig. Stigmas. Fig. 988. Yertical section of 



tlie fruit of a species of Carex. s. Pericarp, te. 

 Integuments of the seed. aJh. Albumen, pj. 



Embryo. Fig. 989. Embryo of a species of 



Carea: removed from the albumen, a. Lateral 

 swelling, r. Eadicle. c. Cotyledon. /. Slit 

 corresponding to the plumule. 



Sta/mens hypogynous, 1 — 12, commonly 3 ; anthers 2-ceUed, 

 innate. Ovary 1 -celled, superior, with 1 erect anatropous ovule. 

 Fruit indehiscent, 1-seeded. Seed with fleshy or mealy albumen ; 

 emiryo lenticular, enclosed in the base of the albumen. 



Diagnosis. — Grass-like or rush-like herbs with solid and 

 usually angular stems. Leaves without ligules and with entire 

 sheaths. Stamens few, hypogynous ; anthers innate, 2-celled. 

 Ovary superior, 1-celled ; ovule solitary, erect, anatropous. 

 Fruit indehiscent, 1-oeUed, 1-seeded. Embryo enclosed in the 

 base of the albumen. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Natives of all parts of the 



