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CYRIDACE A, 
Africa, Australia, and the West Indies. Illustrative Genera :— 
Commelyna, Dill. ; Tradescantia, Linn. There are above 260 
species. 
Properties and Uses.—Their properties are unimportant. 
The rhizomes of some species, as those of Commelyna tuberosu, 
C. angustifolia, and C. striata, contain much starch, and when 
cooked are edible. Others have been reputed astringent and 
vulnerary, and some emmenagogue, Xe. 
Order 2. Mayacex, the Mayaca Order. — Diagnosis. — 
Small Moss-like plants growing in damp places. They are 
closely allied to Commelynacezx, from which they differ in their 
habit ; their 1-celled anthers ; their 1-celled ovary and capsule 
with parietal placentas ; and in their carpels being alternate to 
the outer segments of the perianth. 
Distribution, Numbers, and Properties.—They are found in 
America from Brazil to Virginia. Mayaca, Aubl., is the only 
genus, of which there are 4 species. Their properties and uses 
are unknown. 
Order 3. XyRIDACEH, the Xyris Order.—Character.— 
Sedge-like herbs. Leaves radical, sheathing, ensiform or filiform. 
Flowers hermaphrodite, in scaly heads. Perianth inferior, 6- 
partite, arranged in two whorls,—the outer sub-glumaceous or 
scaly, distinct, and opposite the carpels ; the inner petaloid, 
regular, and united. Stamens 3, inserted into the base of the 
outer lobes of the perianth, or sometimes 6; anthers 2-celled, 
extrorse. Ovary superior, 1-celled, with parietal placentas. 
Capsule 1-celled, 35-valved. Seeds numerous ; embryo minute, in 
fleshy or mealy albumen. 
The genus Rapatea is sometimes made the type of a distinct 
order—the Rapateacee—which is placed in the cohort Pontederales. 
Distribution and Numbers.—Exclusively natives of tropical 
and sub-tropical regions. Tilustratire Genera :—Xyris, Linn. ; 
Rapatea, Awbl. There are about 70 species. 
Properties and Uses.—Unimportant. The leaves and roots 
of some species of Xyris have been employed in cutaneous 
affections. 
Cohort 6. Restiales.—Flowers hermaphrodite or usually uni- 
sexual. Perianth of 2—6 glumaceous or membranous seg- 
ments in 1—2 whorls, or reduced to scales, or absent. 
Stamens 1—6; anthers 1—2-celled. Ovary superior, 1—3- 
celled, usually 3. Ovules solitary, pendulous in each cell, 
orthotropous. Fruit capsular, rigid, or membranous. Seeds 
albuminous. Embryo terminal, outside and at the end of 
the albumen remote from the hilum. 
The orders included in Restiales ave placed by Bentham and 
Hooker in their series Glumacex. They form a connecting link 
between the Glumacex of this volume and the Petaloidex, 
