172 
FLORA AND SYLVA 
the fugacious anthers dangle on the j the glumes and valves is replaced by 
tips of long filaments ; in the female : water, with the consequence that their 
the small feathery stigmas protrude from lustre disappears, the spikelets close up, 
the base of the floret. The degree of the panicles contract or collapse, and 
thisexpansion varies with the individual | though fine weather may follow, they 
— possibly also according to race — and never fully regain their beauty. It is 
conditions of temperature, light, and therefore in dry seasons that we see them 
moisture. Where the branchlets remain at their best. 
short and erect, stiffening soon, the j In most grasses the spikelets fall apart 
panicle is compact and rigid, like a or shake away entire as soon as the grains 
distaff. On the other hand it is looser are ripe. But this is not the case with 
and more graceful in proportion as the the male panicles of the Pampas-grass, 
parts lengthen and unfold to a drooping and even the female plumes break up 
and often a symmetrical habit, with the slowly, if their seeds ripen at all, which 
branches hanging more or less to one in this country seldom happens. The 
side. In this process of unfolding the plumes last therefore for many weeks 
plant can, to some extent, be assisted | even in the open, until the rough winds 
artificially by opening or pushing back of autumn break the shafts, and it is this 
the sheath a few days belore it would endurance which makes the dried heads 
do so if left to itself. Deprived of their so valuable for indoor decoration, 
natural support, and not having yet I have said that the Pampas-grass first 
gained their normal rigidity, the bran- came to this country more than half a 
ches and branchlets fall apartand droop , century ago. It was in 1 843 that David 
more readily, and the plumes become ! Moore of Glasnevin received seed from 
loose and fluffy. This little trick is James Tweedie — at that time collecting 
used in the great Pampas-grass plan- in the Argentine. Its actual discoverer 
tations of California, the fluffy heads however was Frederick Sellow of Pots- 
fetching a better price for indoor de- dam, a successful plant-collector who, 
coration. about 18 14, set out to explore Brazil 
The glumes and valves of the mature under the patronage of Sir Joseph Banks 
floret are delicately membranous ; their and Aylmer Bourke — a fact not gener- 
surface is smooth — apart from the long ally known. Subsequently he travelled 
fine hairs ol the valves — and their tissues with Prince Maximilian von Wied 
filled with air from which they derive I (1815-1817), and in 18 19 with Van 
their beautiful lustre. Sometimes, and Offers of the Prussian Legation. On 
particularly in the male panicle, a deli- this occasion he reached Uruguay (or 
cate pinkish hue is also present, which the Bmtda Oriental as it was then 
has its origin in small quantities of called) and discovered the Pampas- 
cyaiiin^ the commonest colouring prin- grass somewhere near Montevideo. We 
ciple of red or blue flowers. In misty know nothing more about this dis- 
or wet weather the air in the tissues of covery, for Sellow was drowned soon 
