II.] KEY TO NATURAL ORDERS. 143 



GYMNOSPERMS. 



CoNiFERiE (p. 294). — Branching trees with simple, usually 

 acicular or linear leaves. 



CvcADACEiE (p. 299). — Unbranched trees with a terminal 

 crown of pinnate leaves. 



ANGIOSPERMS {continue^. 

 MONOCOTYLEDONS. 



Palmace/e (p. 300). — Stem woody, erect, or slender and 

 scrambling, or acaulescent. Leaves very large, in terminal 

 tufts ; pinnately or palmately incised or compound. Peri- 

 anth six-leaved. Ovary free, of three distinct or united 

 carpels. 



Pandanace^ (p. 303). — Stem woody or herbaceous. 

 Leaves linear, sheathing (pinnate in Nipa). Flowers 

 unisexual, sessile in heads or spikes. Perianth o (except 

 in staminate flowers of Nipa). Ovary one-celled. 



Typhace^ (p. 304). — Marsh herbs with linear leaves and 

 spicate or capitate unisexual flowers. Perianth o. Fruit 

 a dry, one-seeded nut. 



Aroiuk^ (p. 305). — Stem herbaceous or woody, often 

 scandent, or acaulescent. Leaves usually net-veined. Flowers 

 unisexual or hermaphrodite, sessile on a spadix. Perianth 

 o, or of minute scales. 



PiSTiACEiE (p. 308). — Floating herbs, in Lenma consisting 

 of minute leaf-like fronds. Spadix adnate to the spathe. 

 Perianth o. Ovary one-celled, with indefinite laterally 

 affixed ovules. 



Taccace^ (p. 309). — Herbs with radical, entire or divided 

 leaves. Flowers umbellate, on long scapes, regular, hermaph- 

 rodite. Perianth six-lobed. Ovary inferior, with numerous 

 ovules on three parietal placentas. 



