28 PALM FAMILY 



by their white flowers borne in whorls of three around the 

 flowering-stems. 



The most showy of our arrow-heads is S. lancifolia, a 

 tall aquatic plant, very attractive in bloom, and some- 

 times listed in florists' catalogues. *S^. lorata, also listed by 

 florists, is grown in aquariums for its extraordinarily long, 

 ribbon-like leaves. 



The rootstocks of many arrow-heads are thickened, and 

 those of a species cultivated in China are used as food. 



Sagittaria lancifolia. Flowers white, 1-2 in. across, in 

 whorls of 3 around stem 2-6 ft. tall. Petals 3, sepals 3, 

 stamens many. Stamens and pistils in separate flowers on 

 same plant. Leaves basal, oblong or narrow, 8-24 in. long, 

 on erect leaf-stalks. Marshes and shallow water. Blooming 

 all the year. Fla. to Md. and Texas. 



Sagittaria graminea. Flowers about % in. across. Stem 

 4-24 in. tall. Leaves narrow. In mud and shallow water. 

 Blooming all the year. Fla. to Texas and northward. 



Sagittaria Chapmanii. Similar to 8. graminea, but flower- 

 ing-stem is branched. Fla., Ga., and Ala. 



Sagittaria lorata. Leaves floating, long, sometimes dilated 

 into a blade at tip. Flowers small. Shallow water. Bloom- 

 ing in spring and summer. Fla. to S. C. 



PALM FAMILY {Arecaceae) 



It is among the grasses and the palms that man has 

 found a large part of his food, many materials for shelter, 

 and a great part of his wealth. 



From immemorial days the grasses — wheat, rye, barley, 

 rice, oats, and Indian corn — have fed mankind. The bam- 

 boos, which are but grasses of a larger growth, have fur- 

 nished materials for shelter, food, clothing, and household 

 utensils. But in tropical regions the palms, in their 

 marvelous variety, have been the chief dependence of man, 

 yielding him food, shelter, and clothing, milk, wine, and 



