^^MONOCOTYLEDONES 



203 



order, as we have already noticed, is included iji Liliacece by 

 Bentham a7id HooTxer. 



Distributio7i and Numbers. — The species of this order are 

 scattered over various parts of the world, both in tropical and 

 temperate climates ; they are, however, most abundant in 

 tropical America. Illustrative Ge^iera : — Smilax, Linn.; 

 Ripogonum, i^orsf. These are the only genera; there are pro- 

 bably about 120 species, but some botanists make the number 

 considerably more. 



ProjJerties and Uses. — The plants of this order generally 

 possess alterative properties. 



Order 19. PoNTEDERiACEiE, the Pontederia Order. — Cha- 



FiG. 961. 



Fig. 961. Portion of a braucb, with leaves and fruit, of Smilax 

 papyracea. 



racter. — Aquatic herbs. Leaves sheathing at the base, with 

 occasionally dilated petioles. Floivers hermaphrodite, irregular, 

 spathaceous. Perianth inferior, 6-partite, petaloid, tubular, 

 persistent, rolling inwards after flowering. Stamens B or 6, 

 inserted on the segments of the perianth ; anthers introrse. 

 Ovary superior ; style 1 ; stigma simple. Fruit capsular, 

 occasionally somewhat adherent to the persistent perianth. 

 Seeds numerous, with mealy albumen. 



Distribution, Numbers, andProjJerties. — They are natives of 

 the East Indies, Africa, and America. Illustrative Geyiera : — 

 Leptanthus, L. C. B. ; Pontederia, Linn. There are above 30 

 species. Their properties are unimportant. 



Order 20. Philydrace^, the Water-wort Order.— Char ac- 



