CHAPTER X 
VARIOUS PLANT GROUPS 
106. The magnolia family (Magnoliacez) is a compara- 
tively small group well represented by magnolias (Mag- 
nolia, page 262), the tulip-tree (Liriodendron, page 261), 
and star-anise (Illicium, page 143). At first sight there might 
seem to be small resemblance between these and crowfoot- 
like plants; but let us see upon what points of difference we 
can exclude them from the crowfooet family. 
The seeds are essentially the same as those of the crowfoot 
family in having a small uncoiled embryo in copious albumen. 
The fruit of star-anise consists of follicles, much like those of 
the marsh-marigold, though with only one seed in. each; 
while the carpels of the tulip-tree ripen into achenes differing 
from those of anemonies mainly in having wing-like out- 
growths. Such winged fruits are termed samaras.' The mag- 
nolia fruit consists of a cone-like aggregation of follicles * 
differing from those of star-anise in dehiscing by a dorsal 
suture, and in producing one or two seeds which have a fleshy 
outer layer of bright color, and which dangle on slender 
threads when ripe. Neither the androecium nor the perianth 
present any new features. Nor do we find anything essen- 
tially different in regard to the inflorescence or the leaves 
except that in the tulip-tree and magnolia there are leaflet- 
like appendages at the base of the petiole. These stzpules,? 
as they are called, serve as organs of protection for the unex- 
panded leaves. In these plants they soon fall off, and so do 
not appear in the figures. Well-developed stipules are shown 
1Sa-ma’ra < L. samara, the winged fruit of the elm. 
2Stip’ule < L. stipula, stubble, diminutive of stipes, stalk, the 
stipules in their relation to the petiole being likened to the short stubble 
standing at the base of a stalk of grain. . 
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