CHAPTER FORTY-NINE 



SOME FAMILIES OF ANGIOSPERMS 



Certain families of the angiosperms are of special interest 

 because of their economic importance, their common occurrence, 

 or their peculiarities. The following families have been selected 

 from among several hundred to exemplify the variety of plants 

 included among the angiosperms, and to show some further 

 characteristics of the monocots and dicots. 



MONOCOTYLEDONS 



The grass family (Gramineae) . The grass family includes the 

 most important food plants in the world. Wheat, corn, rice, 

 barley, rye, oats, and sugar cane furnish the bulk of human food. 

 Corn, wheat, oats, and a variety of wild and cultivated grasses 

 furnish most of the food of grazing animals. 



Fig. 327. Flower cluster and spikelet of orchard grass {Dactylis), showing 

 glumes, pistils, and stamens. 



524 



