210 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 
or reticulate leaves resembling Dicotyledons (though 
the order is monocotyledonous), or the leaves may be 
sagittate. They are borne on long stalks or petioles. 
The leaves may be glossy, ovate, cordate, acuminate, 
and entire, rarely opposite. 
The inflorescence is in a raceme, the flowers being 
regular, and inconspicuous, small and green, with one 
to three bracts. 
There are staminate and pistillate flowers, which 
differ only in the floral structure. The perianth is six- 
cleft, tubular at the base. There are six anthers, or 
three anthers and three staminodes, which are situated 
on the base of the perianth. 
The ovary, which is usually three-celled, is inferior, 
the style is three-cleft, and the fruit is a dry capsule 
or berry, red when ripe, and poisonous, being strongly 
emetic. The seeds are winged. 
Brack Bryony (Tamus communis). 
This common wayside flower is found in most of 
the counties in the British Isles except some parts 
of Wales and the Isle of Man. 
It is a typical hedgerow plant, being a climber 
and needing some support. It also grows in the 
same situation in fields, meadows and pastures. The 
Black Bryony may also be found in woods and 
thickets, preferring a more or less shady habitat. 
The habit is that of a climber or trailer. The 
stem is terete, striate, hard, and much twisted or 
undulating. There is a thick tuberous root. The 
