TERMINOLOGY IN MONOCOTYLEDONS. 499 



relation to the hilum, rarely absolutely basal. The line separa- 

 ting the two orders may therefore well be the subject of differ- 

 ence of opinion; and a certain number of genera, chiefly Austra- 

 lian, and each one very distinct in itself (Xerotes, Ringia, Dasy- 

 pogon, and Calectasia, with or without Xanthorrhoca) have often 

 been grouped together into an intermediate order under the name 

 Xerotideae, although to me they appear to be much more appro- 

 priately regarded as a tribe of Juncaceae. 



The very distinct almost monotypic genus Flagellaria has, on 

 account of its farinaceous albumen, been placed by some under 

 Juncaceae, with which it has little else in common ; by others it has 

 still more inaptly been referred to Commelynaceae because of the 

 embryo almost superficial and remote from the hilum. It would 

 appear, however, that it might well be included in Liliaceae (Smi- 

 lacese) in the vicinity of Rhipogonum. 



Palms form a group so natural and so striking that they are 

 universally acknowledged as a substantive order, which some 

 'would raise to the rank of an alliance, or even of a separate class ; 

 and yet the distinctive character rests chiefly on the organs of 

 vegetation, a woody stem combined with pinnately or palmately 

 divided or lobed leaves, the structure of the flower and fruit in most 

 genera being very nearly that of the Coronariae, especially of 

 Juncaceae. The size and hardness of the albumen is exceptional 

 in many, but not in all, the genera. The apocarpous or mono- 

 carpellary ovary in few instances has induced an approximation to 

 Pandaneae, which exhibit a somewhat similar arborescent habit; 

 but that habit occurs also in Draccena, Xanthorrhcea, and other 

 Coronariae, always, however, with undivided leaves. 



The spatha enveloping the young inflorescence is usually given 

 as an essentially distinctive character of Palms as well as of Aroi- 

 deae, and is really a well-marked and generally prevalent feature, 

 but not quite constant, and in other orders a very uncertain one. 

 The passage from the stem-leaves to the next following bracts is in 



Monocotyledons 



with 



laminae, whether radical, or scattered along or terminating the stem 

 or branches, cease abruptly under the peduncle, scape or flowering 

 branch ; this bears only bracts or scales, being usually more or 

 less developed sheaths either close or open, but without any or 

 with only very small distinct laminae. Of these bracts or scales 

 there are sometimes none below the one subtending the inflores- 



2p2 



