CLASS II. MONOCOTYLEDONS 



Only one 1. appears first when the seed germinates. The Is. which follow do not 

 usually have a network of branching veins. There is no clear distinction of bark, 

 wood, and pith. The parts of the fl. are usually in threes, or a multiple of three. 



Family 102. MUSACEAE. P3+3, A5, G (3) 



* MusA Basjoo. Japanese Banana. 9. Summer. E. Ls. oblong, very large 

 (up to nine feet by two), with numerous parallel veins springing at right angles 

 from midrib ; crowded at top of erect tapering stem, which is enclosed by remains 

 of 1. -stalks. Fls. yellow, in a terminal drooping spike Fruit 4x1, 3-angled, 

 banana-like. Japan. 



Family 103. AMARYLLIDACEAE. P3 +3, A3 +3, G (3) 

 (Daffodil, Narcissus, Snowdrop) 



* Agave AMERICANA. 12. E. Ls. linear, lane, or awl-shaped, 12x3, thick and 

 fleshy, toothed, spine-tipped, dull grey-green, crowded radially in a tuft at or near 

 ground-level. Fls, 2, white, in a large panicle at top of erect stalk 8 to 12 feet high; 

 the plant dies after flowering. Arizona to Mexico. (Fig. 38 h.) 



* Beschorneria YUCCOiDES. 6. June. E. Ls. lane, 24x3, entire, sharp-pointed, 

 glaucous, margins minutely toothed, crowded radially in a tuft at or near ground- 

 level. Fls. 2, green, drooping, in few-flowered clusters from axils of red bracts, 

 the whole being borne on a stout erect red stalk up to 6 feet high. Fruit 2, fig- 

 shaped. Mexico. (Fig. 38 j.) 



Family 104. LILIACEAE. P3+3, A3 +3, G (3) 

 (Leek, Lily, Hyacinth, Bluebell, Garlic, Onion) 



Asparagus aphyllus (A. horridus). Rambling or shrubby. Summer. E. 

 Ls. absent, their place being taken by alternate clusters of awl-shaped green spines. 

 Fls. small, greenish. Fruit a black berry. Mediterranean region. (Fig. 38 K.) 



CORDYLINE (DRACAENA). Club Palm, Dragon Tree. Ls. linear, entire, 

 crowded palm-like at top of main stem or branches, green, firm, upper erect, lower 

 drooping. Fls. small, creamy white, in large much-branched panicles. Fruit 

 a berrv. 



* C. australis. Cabbage Tree. 40. E. Stem branches after reaching flowering 



stage. Ls. 36x3. Berry white. New Zealand. (Fig. 39 a.) 



* C. indivisa {C. Hectori). 25. E. Stem unbranched. Ls. 72x6. Berry 



purplish blue. New Zealand. 



Danaea racemosa (D. Laurus). Alexandrian Laurel. 4. June-July. E. Ls. 

 ov., lane, 4, entire, bright green on both sides, hairless, stalkless. Fls. small, white 

 or greenish yellow, in small terminal racemes. Fruit a berry, \, red. Asia Minor. 

 (Fig. 38 A.) 



282 



