MOXOCOTYLEDOXES 205 



racter. — Herbs, with flattened, narrow, usually sheathing 

 leaves. Perianth inferior, more or less irregular, in six parts 

 arranged in two whorls ; the outer parts being green, persistent, 

 and opposite to the carpels ; the inner petaloid. Stamens 3 or 6, 

 some generally abortive, hj^pogynous ; anthers 2-celled, introrse. 

 Ovary 3-celled, superior ; style 1. Caj^sule 2 — 3-eelled, 2 — 3- 

 valved, with loculicidal dehiscence and axile placentation. 

 Seeds few, with a linear hilum ; emhryo shaped like a pulley, 

 remote from the hilum, in dense fleshy albumen. 



Distribution and Numbers. — They are chiefly natives of 

 India, Africa, Australia, and the West Indies. Illustrative 

 Genera : — Commelyna, Dill. ; Tradescantia, Linn. There are 

 above 260 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Their properties are unimportant. 



Fig. 962. Fig. 963. 



Fig. 962. Flower of a species of Wood-rush (Luzula), having an inferior 

 perianth Avith six divisions, C stamens, and a superior ovary with 1 style 

 and 3 stigmas. Fig. 963. Vertical section of the seed of the same. 



The rhizomes of some species, as those of Commelyna tuber osa, 

 C. angtistifolia, and C. striata, contain much starch, and when 

 cooked are edible. Others have been reputed astringent and 

 vulnerary, and some emmenagogue, &c. 



Series 4. — Calycince. 



Order 24. Juncace^, the Eush Order.— Character. — 

 Sedge- or grass-like herbs, rhizomatous or with tufted or fibrous 

 roots. Leaves with parallel veins, fistular or more or less 

 flattened and grooved. Floiuers regular. Perianth inferior, 6- 

 partite, scale-like or coriaceous, greenish or brown, persistent. 

 Stamens 6, or rarely 3, perigynous ; anthers introrse, 2-celled. 

 Oyar?/ superior, 1 — 3-celled; style 1, stigmas 3 or 1. Fruit a 

 loculicidal capsule, 3-celled, 3-valved, and with 1 or many seeds 



