MUSCACEAE 359 
bright-eolored. Androecium very irregular. Gynoecium compound. 
Ovary inferior. Fruit a capsule, a utricle, or a berry. Endosperm present. 
Polleniferous stamens 5 or 6 in each flower. Fam. 1. MUSACEAE. 
rcs stamens 1 in each flower. 
Ovary 3- celled, all 3 carpels fructiferous: ovules nu- 
er 1s Re each cavity of the ovary: fruit cap- 
sular: embryo straig 
Sepals distinct: anthers 1-celled. Fam. 2. CANNACEAE 
Sepals partially united: a anthers 2-celled Fam. 3. ADDICT 
ovules solitary in each cavity of the ovary: fruit 
utricular : embryo hooked. Fam. 4. MARANTACEAE. 
Faminy d. MUSACEBAE — Banana FAMILY 
Caulescent, usually large herbs, or trees. Leaves spiral or distichous: 
blades usually ve ry large. Flowers perfect or somewhat monoecious. In- 
into a spathe-like organ. Corolla of 3 distinct petals, or of partially 
united petals, sometimes partially adnate to the calyx. Androecium of 
or 6 polleniferous stamens. Gynoecium of 3 ded lc Fruit 
baccate or capsular.—Six genera and 70 species of warm regions 
A L. Tree-like herbs, the stems sheathed with the thick leaf-bases. 
Leaves with large prominently feather-veined blades. Inflorescence drooping, 
with large bracts. Perianth white or pink. Petals BOTE than the sepals, 2 
of them partly adnate to the calyx-tube, the other free, and often snort, with 
90 : 
World. There are numerous cultivated varieties.—BANANA.—The fruits of 
several species are foods and fiber is also obtained from some species. 
Mi long-petioled: free petals over 14 as long as the 
1. M. sapientum. 
Leaf-blades sessile or nearly so: free ae less than % as long 
e calys 2. M. Cavendish. 
Plant 6—10 m, tall: 
er blades broadly elliptic, 1.5-2. 
long, rounded ordate at the base: 
panicle oon 15- 2 m. long: bracts 
purplish: calyx about 4 cm. long, the 
apical appendages minute or obsolete: 
berry  long-elliptie, 8-15 cm. long, 
SRN e the pulp sweet.— (Com MON- 
BA —Hammocks, S pen. Fla. and 
S La. “Nat of E. I, and cult. —All seed 
2. M. Cavendishii Lamb. Plant mostly 
1-2.5 m Te ten blades bius d es 
mostly abou . long: calyx 3-3.5 e 
ens the de En ages minu uio: tip of the 
V al nearly erect: berry mostly 10— 
ong, yellowish, the "um sweet.—(DWARF-BANANA.)—Hammocks and 
Dun grounds, S pen. Fla. and the Keys. Nat. of China, and eult —All year. 
Famy 2. CANNACEAE — Cana Fanny 
Caulescent herbs. Flowers perfect. Calyx of 3 erect sepals. Corolla 
of 3 partially united petals.: Androecium more or less adnate to the 
