452 PALMiE. [part ii. 



Apple is, in fact, a fleshy receptacle, like that 

 of the Strawberry, covered with scaly bracts, 

 which are the remains of the fallen flowers. 

 The flowers are blue, and one is produced in 

 each bract ; when they fall, the bracts thicken 

 and grow together, and cover the ovaries, 

 which sink into the fleshy part of the receptacle. 



ORDER CXCIX.— PONTEDERACE^. 



Elegant aquatic plants, with kidney-shaped 

 leaves, and spikes or racemes of blue or white 

 flowers. The principal genus is Pontederia. 



ORDER CC— COMMELINE^. 



This order is principally known in Britain by 

 the Spiderwort {Tradescantia) , and the beauti- 

 ful Commeiina ccelestis. Both plants have the 

 flowers springing from a tuft of leaves which 

 sheath the stem. 



ORDER CCI PALMyE— THE PALM TRIBE. 



This order contains many lofty trees, which 

 are, with one exception, without branches, 

 and bear a tuft of large leaves, called fronds, 

 at the summit. The flowers are small, with 

 bracts, and they are enclosed in a spathe. 



