Straw (from strew, as being used for strewing), is the general term applied to the stalky residue of grain-plants (especially wheat, rye, oats, barley).
Instead of buying flowers and carefully pulling the petals off before strewing them all over the floor and bed, now lovers can buy a Bed of Roses kit, which takes away the dirty work.
One small piece will look apologetic, and out of place, while strewing roosters everywhere will make a statement.
Chladni's experiment of strewing a vibrating bell with flour, investigated the nature of sound and the function of the air in respiration and combustion, and originated the idea of using the pendulum as a measure of gravity.