34 TYPHACEAE 



aments short-stalked, subtended by involucres of several imbricated bracts arising from the 

 axils of the leaves. Pollen-sacs 6-8 under each shield-like scale. Pistillate aments erect, 

 consisting of usually one ovule ; this sessile in an involucre of several imbricated bracts. 

 Aril accrescent into a pulpy cup. Seed nut-like, elongated, exposed only at the apex. 



1. Taxus Florid^na Nutt. A low tree ranging from 3-6 m. in height, with a maxi- 

 mum trunk diameter of 0.25 m., producing a heavy, hard and compact wood. Branches 

 horizontally spreading ; branchlets 2-ranked : leaves 1-2 cm. long ; blades narrowly linear, 

 sharply apiculate, revolute, sometimes glaucescent beneath, narrowed into short twisted 

 petioles ; midrib prominent on both surfaces : fruit berry-like ; aril bright red, 6-10 mm. 

 long : seed ovoid, 5-7 mm. long, minutely wrinkled, narrowed into a short tip. 



On river banks, western Florida. Rare and local. Spring. YEW. 



Class 2. ANGIOSPERMAE. 



Carpel or pistil a closed cavit} 7 formed by the uniting of the margins of 

 a rudimentary leaf, or sometimes of several leaves. The ovules (macro- 

 sporanges) are borne on the inner face of this cavity and within it the 

 seeds are matured. A pollen-grain alighting on the stigma (a specialized 

 portion of the carpel) sends out a pollen-tube which penetrates the tissues 

 of the carpel and on reaching an ovule enters its orifice (ruicropyle), or 

 rarely the pollen-tube enters at the chalaza. Fertilization is effected by 

 a sperm-cell at the end of a pollen-tube coming in contact with an egg cell 

 in the embryo-sac. 



otyledon 1 : stem endogenous. Subclass 1. MOXOCOTYLEDONES. 



Cotyledons normally 2: stem exogenous (with rare exceptions). Subclass 2. DICOTYLEDONES. 



SUBCLASS 1. MONOCOTYLEDONES. 



Stems endogenous, with no distinction into bark, wood and pith, con- 

 sisting of a ground-mass of soft tissue (parenchyma) in which strands or 

 bundles of wood- cells are irregularly distributed. Leaves mostly alter- 

 nate, sheathing at the base : blades usually parallel-nerved, entire or essen- 

 tially so, rarely separating by a manifest articulation. Perianth and essen- 

 tial parts of the flower usually in threes or sixes. Embryo with a single 

 cotyledon, the early leaves always alternate. 



Order 1. PANDANALES. 



Aquatic, or marsh-inhabiting herbs, perennial, mostly with elongated root- 

 stocks. Leaves alternate, with narrow elongated blades. Flowers incomplete 

 and imperfect, in elongated or head-like spikes. Perianth of bristles or scales. 

 Androecium of 2-7 stamens. Gynoecium a single carpel, or rarely of 2 united 

 carpels. Ovary 1-2-celled. Fruit nut-like. Endosperm mealy or fleshy. 



Flowers in elongated terminal spikes: fruit hidden among bristles. Fam. 1. TYPHACEAE. 



Flowers in globose axillary spikes : fruit not hidden among bristles. Fam. 2. SPAUGANIACEAF. 



FAMILY 1. TYPHACEAE J. St. Hil. CAT-TAIL FAMILY. 



Perennial marsh herbs, with long rootstocks and glabrous foliage. Stems 

 simple, terete. Leaves sheathing at the base : blades linear, sword-like, flat. 

 Flowers monoecious, in dense spikes, these subtended by fugacious bracts ; 

 staminate spike above the pistillate. Perianth of several bristles. Stamens 2- 

 7. Filaments united at the base. Anthers oblong or broadened upward. Ovary 

 1-2-celled, stalked. Stigmas club-shaped, oblong or rhomboidal. Ovules sus- 

 pended, anatropous. Accompanying the stamens and pistils are numerous 

 bristles, while among the pistillate flowers are other sterile flowers in the form 

 of club-shaped hairs. Fruit nut-like. Endosperm copious. 



