198 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 
charidacez, in Orchidacee, Iridaceze, Amaryllidacez, 
and Dioscoracez, in which the perianth is irregular 
or regular. 
In Bryony the plant is climbing and monececious. 
The perianth is inferior or wanting and the carpels 
free in Alismacez, Naiadacez, the carpels united in 
Liliacez, Trilliaceze, Melanthacee, Juncacee, Aracez, 
Lemnacee, Typhacez. 
The flower is spadiceous in Aracez. It is unisexual 
in Hydrocharidez, Dioscoracez, and in some Aroidez 
or Naiadacez, moncecious in Eriocaulonez and 
Typhacee. 
In the rest it is bisexual. In Typhacez, Aroidez, 
and Lemnacez the perianth is absent or rudimentary. 
There are thirteen families in this group, of which 
we include five—Orchidacee, Iridacez, Melanthacez, 
Dioscoraceze and Juncacez—and five species are 
described. 
THE ORCHID GROUP. 
This is one of the most popular orders of British 
plants (Orchidacez), including some of the most 
lovely species, and the fabulous prices given for some 
of the foreign Orchids has perhaps also raised them 
in the public estimation. 
As a whole they are herbaceous and occur in all 
parts of the world, but especially in the warmer 
countries. Many of this group in the Tropics are 
epiphytes attaching themselves to the branches of 
trees, stones and rocks, to which they fix themselves 
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