330 SAUEURACEAE 



37. CYRTOPODIUM R. Br. 



Epiphytic herbs, with the flower-stalk lateral. Leaves borne on a stout club-like stem : 

 blades elongated, ribbed, or those of the flower-stalks reduced, mainly to sheathing scales. 

 Flowers several or numerous in a terminal panicle. Perianth showy. Sepals and lateral 

 petals quite similar. Lip ample, the lateral lobes larger than the middle lobe, the claw 

 jointed to the descending slender column-foot. Capsules drooping. 



1. Cyrtopodium punctktum Lindl. Flowering stems 8-15 dm. tall, branched 

 above, furnished with large sheathing scales. Leaves partly drooping ; blades firm, 3-7 

 dm. long, 2-3 cm. wide, broadly linear, acuminate, dilated and sheathing at the base : 

 bracts leaf-like, somewhat crisped : pedicels stout, 3-4 cm. long at maturity : perianth 

 showy, 3-3.5 cm. broad: sepals oval or obovate, fully 1.5 cm. long : lateral petals slightly 

 longer than the sepals, thinner, somewhat crisped : lip much broader than long, rather 

 butterfly-like, the middle lobe broadly reniform, beaded along the margins, more or less 

 deeply notched, the lateral lobes larger, broader than long, with a broad crest between 

 them, nearly even along the edge : capsules oblong, 6-10 cm. long, ribbed. 



In dense hammocks, on trees, peninsular Florida. Spring to fall. 



SUBCLASS 2. DICOTYLEDONES. 



Stems exogenous, consisting of pith, wood and bark (endogenous in 

 rare cases) : pith of parenchymatous cells : wood in one or several 

 layers surrounding the pith, traversed by medullary rays : bark cover- 

 ing the wood. Leaves various : blades mostly pinnately or palmately 

 nerved, their bases, or the bases of the petioles articulated. Perianth 

 and essential parts of the flower rarely in threes or sixes. Embryo with 

 two cotyledons (rarely with only one, or probably none in Cuscuta). The 

 first leaves (cotyledons) are opposite. 



Series 1. CHORIPETALAE. 



Petals separate and distinct from each other, or wanting. The series 

 embraces most of the families formerly included in the APETALAE and 



the POLYPETALAE. 



Order 1. PIPERALES. 



Herbs of low or moist situations, usually with rootstocks, or shrubs, or rarely 

 trees. Leaves normal : blades simple. Flowers perfect, or unisexual. Peri- 

 anth wanting. Androecium of several stamens. Gynoecium of one or several 

 distinct or united carpels. Fruit berry-like or somewhat capsular, or nut-like. 

 Endosperm present. 



Carpels distinct or nearly so, 3-4 : ovules 2-8 in each cavity. Fam. l. SAURURACEAE. 



Carpels united to form a single pistil : ovule 1 in each cavity. Fam. 2. PIPERACEAE. 



FAMILY 1. SAURURACEAE Lindl. LIZARD'S-TAIL FAMILY. 

 Caulescent herbs, with submerged rootstocks. Leaves alternate, sometimes 

 all basal ; blades commonly thickish. Inflorescence terminal, spicate or race- 

 mose. Flowers perfect, incomplete, subtended by small bractlets. Perianth 

 wanting. Androecium of 3-8 stamens. Filaments distinct, subulate, filiform or 

 club-shaped, inserted under the ovary or adnate to its base. Anthers introrse. 

 Gynoecium of 3-4 distinct carpels, or these united only at the base. Stigmas 

 introrse. Ovules 2-8 in each cavity, ascending, orthotropous. Fruit dry or 

 berry-like, usually with 1 seed in each carpel. Testa fleshy-leathery. Endo- 

 sperm mealy or fleshy, with the minute embryo at the top. 



1. SAURTJRUS L. 



Marsh herbs, with horizontal rootstocks and erect jointed stems. Leaf-blades dilated : 

 stipules sheathing, membranous. Flowers small, white, in slender terminal racemes with 

 drooping tips, furnished with minute bractlets which are adnate to each pedicel or ovary. 

 Filaments filiform or club-shaped, distinct : anther-sacs opening lengthwise. Pistils 3-4. 

 Fruit of the 3-4 accrescent carpels which are distinct or nearly so, and veiny, opening 

 lengthwise along the inner side. Seeds subglobose or ovoid. Endosperm mealy. 



