758 



THE SUBDIVISIONS OF THE VEGETABLE KIXGDOM. 



Alliance XLIII. — Viridifloras. 



Families: Leitneriacece, Cannabinacece, Dorsteniacece, Artocarpacece, FicacecB, 

 Conocephalacece, Moracece, Ulmacece 



Animal or perennial herbs, shrubs, and trees. The laminfse of the foliage-leaves 

 veined with pinnate or radiating bundles. Flowers in glomerate, fasciculate, or 

 spicate cymes; actinomorphic, hermaphrodite, pseudo-hermaphrodite, moncEcious, and 

 dicEcious. Perianth composed of 2-8 inconspicuous greenish segments. Gjmfeceum 

 superior, 1-2 carpellary and unilocular. Ovule solitary, pendulous. Stamens as many 

 or double as many as the perianth-segments; all or those of the outer whorl are 



Kg. 428.—" Living bridge " formed of the aerial roots of the India-rubber and other kinds of Figs in Sikldm-Himalaya. 



(After Hooker.) 



inserted opposite the segments of the perianth. The pollen in dusty. The fruit is 

 a one-seeded achene or a drupe. The cotyledons of the embryo are not thickened. 



The Ulmacese and Cannabinaceae contain watery juices; the plants of the other 

 families produce milky juice in greater or smaller quantity. The milky juice of the 

 Indian Ficiis elastica is used in the manufacture of caoutchouc, that of the South 

 American Cow-tree (Galactodendron utile) as an article of diet. The milky juice of 

 the Upas-tree {Antiaris toxicaria), native to Java, contains poisonous substances. 

 In the Hop (Humulus Lupulus) and in the Hemp (Cannabis sativa) bitter and 



