254 NATURAL SYSTEM OF JUSSIEU. 



4. Graminece. — Flowers usually in a panicle or spike^ 

 let, enclosed in a glume or valves. Stamens usually 

 three. Germen simple, surmounted by two styles, 

 and plumose stigmas ; Embryo minute, partially sur- 

 rounded by a large farinaceous albumen. Roots 

 fibrous and capillary. Culm cylindrical, hollow, 

 jointed, simple and herbaceous, sheath of the leaves 

 parted. The vegetable kingdom does not present a 

 more natural or a more useful tribe of plants than 

 the Grasses. They thrive in every section of the 

 globe, clothing the earth with verdure, and supply- 

 ing the cattle with herbage, and man with his " daily 

 bread." 



Class 2. Stamens Perigynous. 



1. Palma. — Flowers diclinious arranged on a spadix. 

 Calyx, six-parted, without a corolla. Stamens six 

 or more. Germens, one or three. Fruit a drupe, 

 of one or three monospermous cells. Seed hard. 

 Embryo in the cavity of a large corneous albumen. 

 The Palms have a simple cylindrical stem, terminated 

 in a tuft of persistent, palmate, or pinnate leaves. 



2. Asparagi. — Calyx, (Corolla Desfontaines) six-part- 

 ed. Stamens six. Germen simple, usually superi- 

 or. Embryo at the base of a corneous albumen. 

 Leaves usually alternate. This order is exemplified 

 in the following American genera : Convallaria, 

 Trillum and Gyromia. 



3. Junci.— Flowers in a spathe. Calyx inferior six- 

 parted, (the three interior segments usually large 

 and petaloid.) Germen and fruit simple or com- 

 pound, exemplified in Swiderwert, Arrow-head and 

 Mis ma. 



