CHAPTER XXXVI. 



ECONOMIC OR USEFUL PLANTS.* 



MONOCOTYLEDONES. 



554. The grass family (Gramineae). The most useful mem- 

 bers of the grass family are the grasses, the cereals (or grains) , 

 wheat, oats, barley, rye, maize, and rice, the canes and bamboo. 

 The members of the family have a very wide distribution over 

 the earth, some growing in the wild state while most of the use- 

 ful ones are kept under cultivation. While they display a great 

 variety in individual appearance, the flower structure is very 

 similar in all, and is very simple (see Chapter XVII for the 

 flower of maize and oats). The true grasses, i.e., the members 

 of the grass family, which are popularly called grasses, include a 

 considerable variety of cultivated forms, which are often grown 

 for special purposes because of their fitness for special conditions, 



* To THE TEACHER. Only the larger and more important families are 

 intended for study. The others are included simply to round out the topic 

 as a whole. Many of the economic plants will be studied in connection with 

 the study of seedlings, the parts of the full-grown plant, the studies of flowers, 

 fruit and seed in the early part of the course. This chapter is prepared for 

 the purpose of discussing some of the principal useful plants, with notes on 

 their history, distribution, etc., and at the same time for the purpose of show- 

 ing their relationship in the system of classification among seed plants, and 

 some of our common wild flowers which are their relatives and belong to the 

 same family. The teacher can arrange for discussions, readings, and exhi- 

 bitions of various topics as material and time will permit. Doubtless in 

 many cases very little or no time can be given to the matter of the chapter in 

 the regular work, but it will serve a good purpose for reference. A per- 

 manent collection of the more important economic plants including fruits, 

 nuts, woods, plant products, etc., would be a valuable possession for the 

 schools. 



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