34 TYPHACEAE 
aments short-stalked, subtended by involucres of several imbricated bracts arising from the 
axils of the leaves. Pollen-sacs 6-8 under each shield-like scale. Pistillate aments erect, 
consisting of usually one ovule ; this sessile in an involucre of several imbricated bracts. 
Aril accrescent into a pulpy cup. Seed nut-like, elongated, exposed only at the apex. 
1. Taxus Floridana Nutt. A low tree ranging from 3-6 m. in height, with a maxi- 
mum trunk diameter of 0.25 m., producing a heavy, hard and compact wood. Branches 
horizontally spreading ; branchlets 2-ranked : leaves 1-2 em. long ; blades narrowly linear, 
sharply apiculate, revolute, sometimes glaucescent beneath, narrowed into short twisted 
poe ; midrib prominent on both surfaces: fruit berry-like; aril bright red, 6-10 mm. 
ong: seed ovoid, 5-7 mm. long, minutely wrinkled, narrowed into a short tip. 
On river banks, western Florida. Rare and local. Spring. YEW. 
Class 2. ANGIOSPÉRMAE. 
Carpel or pistil a closed cavity formed by the uniting of the margins of 
a rudimentary leaf, or sometimes of several leaves. The ovules (macro- 
sporanges) are borne on the inner face of this cavity and within it the 
seeds are matured. A pollen-grain alighting on the stigma (a specialized 
portion of the carpel) sends out a pollen-tube which penetrates the tissues 
of the carpel and on reaching an ovule enters its orifice (micropyle), or 
rarely the pollen-tube enters at the chalaza. Fertilization is effected by 
a sperm-cell at the end of a pollen-tube coming in contact with an egg cell 
in the embryo-sac. 
Cotyledon 1: stem endogenous. Subclass 1. MONOCOTYLEDONES. 
Cotyledons normally 2: stem exogenous ( with rare exceptions). Subelass 2. DICOTYLEDONES. 
SuBcLAss 1. MONOCOTYLEDONES. 
Stems endogenous, with no distinction into bark, wood and pith, con- 
sisting of a ground-mass of soft tissue (parenchyma) in which strands or 
bundles of wood-cells are irregularly distributed. Leaves mostly alter- 
nate, sheathing at the base : blades usually parallel-nerved, entire or essen- 
tially so, rarely separating by a manifest articulation. Perianth and essen- 
tial parts of the flower usually in threes or sixes. Embryo with a single 
cotyledon, the early leaves always alternate. 
Order 1. PANDANALES. 
Aquatic, or marsh-inhabiting herbs, perennial, mostly with elongated root- 
stocks. Leaves alternate, with narrow elongated blades. Flowers incomplete 
and imperfect, in elongated or head-like spikes. Perianth of bristles or scales. 
Androecium of 2-7 stamens. Gynoecium a single carpel, or rarely of 2 united 
carpels. Ovary 1-2-celled. Fruit nut-like. Endosperm mealy or fleshy. 
Flowers in elongated terminal spikes: fruit hidden among bristles. ; Fam. 1. TYPHACEAE. 
Flowers in globose axillary spikes: fruit not hidden among bristles. Fam. 2. SPARGANIACEAF. 
FAMILY 1. TYPHACEAE J. St. Hil. CAT-TAIL FAMILY. 
Perennial marsh herbs, with long rootstocks and glabrous foliage. Stems 
simple, terete. Leaves sheathing at the base: blades linear, sword-like, flat. 
Flowers monoecious, in dense spikes, these subtended by fugacious bracts; 
staminate spike above the pistillate. Perianth of several bristles. Stamens 2- 
7. Filaments united atthe base. Anthers oblong or broadened upward. Ovary 
1-2-celled, stalked. Stigmas club-shaped, oblong or rhomboidal. Ovules sus- 
pended, anatropous. Accompanying the stamens and pistils are numerous 
bristles, while among the pistillate flowers are other sterile flowers in the form 
of club-shaped hairs. Fruit nut-like. Endosperm copious. 
