416 THE ANATOMY OF WOODY PLANTS 



of the monocotyledons cannot yet be regarded as by any means 

 settled, and a much fuller knowledge of the anatomy of extinct 

 and living representatives of this extremely important group is 

 necessary before any final results can be reached. If we attempt 

 to picture to ourselves the probable future course of evolution in 

 the angiosperms, it is difficult to concede to the monocotyledons 

 a prominent position. This group seems to have reached such an 

 extreme degree of specialization that it will probably in the long 

 run entirely disappear and be replaced by new derivatives of the 

 still plastic dicotyledons. 



