Sedge Buster Lesson 5 Cyperus, diminutives

Jeez Louise! Even Ovates can have a bad day. And today was a rotten weenie, fer sure. But there's always hope. Anyway, I have sufficiently recovered, much abetted by a delicious supper, so here's a sedge buster. The sedge du jour is Cyperus difformis. The specimen is from Travis County, October 17, 1995. C. difformis s an alien, maybe, that was discovered abiding in Texas by the famous naturalist, W.R. Carr, back in the early 80s. Prior to that, nobody knew it was here in these parts.

As can be seen nearby, maybe, this un is best appreciated under the microscope. Those scales are under one millimeter in length. See the purty maroon splotches on the scales. As ye may know, maroon is one of the Texas Aggie colors and a secret Aggie ritual is associated with this particular sedge on account of its white and maroon scales. But just like the Secret Aggie **** Wag, I can't spell about it, because it's associated with a very secretive Texas Aggie ritual.

Where the achenes and scales have fallen off, ye can espy the rachis, or rachilla if ye prefer that spell, upon which the achenes and scales were formerly attached. And if ye look carefully, ye may espy the wings. Also, up at the top of the picture, there's an achene, dissected out.

Anon, I may spell about today's many adventures. But maybe not. Whew! Telescopery adventures, Mall Wart adventures, dead car battery adventures, too many adventures. Plus I like to froze to death. Here tis the middle of "I am Cotton fer Spit Month" and my dang toes lost ciruculation fer hours.
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Crum-bee. You have a let-ter.

Now whut! Whut's this?
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Dear Mr. Ovate,

We at the American Museum of Unnatural History (AMUnH) are pleased to inform you that we are sending a team of our most famous scientists to Red's Good Vs. Evil Cow Barn for the purpose of investigating your claims regarding the bone of a rattite, that you have put forward as evidence for your lineal descent from no less a figment than one Jesus of Nazareth, the very same Jesus that many Christians believe is a sungod, or perhaps the sungod.

Our team will be arriving in Austin on March 28. The plane will arrive during afternoon rush hour that day and we expect that our scientists will require a ride provided by you from the airport to the Cow Barn. Also, please expect to interrupt your, no doubt, busy schedule so that we may consult with you at some length with regard to this interesting artifact. We also assume that you will provide accomodations and a plenitude of delicious Texas style food and other diversions and entertainments in accordance with your customs and morals.

See you soon,

Dr. Moreau and All the Members of the Rattite Bone Investigative Team (RBIT)

P.S. You may recognize us at the airport for we will be in a group, all similarly attired in red shirts and britches plus white belts and shoes and straw cowboy hats. In addition, I am renownedly big and fat.
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Sigh!