SYSTEM.. 247 



contains an assemblage of the most noble and important of 

 all the forest trees. From the species, not only the masts 

 and spars of ships are obtained, but also in a commercial 

 relation, the equally necessary articles, tar, pitch, resin, and 

 turpentine. 



SUB-CLASS II. ENDOGEN.E, OR PLANTS WITH ONE COTY- 

 LEDON. 



Leaves often sheathing at the base, and not articulated 

 with the stem, veins chiefly parallel. Flowers with the calyx 

 in three divisions, and a corolla in three or six divisions 

 Stem without any distinction of wood, bark, and pith. 



TRIBE 1. PETALOIDE^E. 



Plants of this tribe have flowers with petals of good size, 

 as Ins, and Water Plantain. Or in some instances they are 

 spadaceous, as in arum. 



119. ALISMACE^E. The Water Plantain tribe. Ex. Alisma, 

 Sagittaria. Prop. The root is fleshy and eatable. Alisma 

 plantago was formerly said to cure hydrophobia. 



120. HYDROCHARIDE.E. The Frog-bit tribe. Ex. Hydro- 

 charis, Vallisnena. Prop. Insipid water plants. 



121. COMMELINE^E. The Spider-wort tribe. Ex. Comme- 

 lina, Tradescantia. Prop. Mere weeds, or sometimes fine 

 flowering plants. 



122. BROMELIADE^E. The Pine-Apple tribe. Ex. Tilland- 

 sia, Agave. Prop. The flavor of the Pine- Apple is well 

 known. The Agave is a thick leaved plant, which, when 

 tapped, is said to yield a juice capable of making wine. 



123. AMARYLLIDE.E. The Narcissus tribe. Ex. Amaryllis, 

 Crinum, Pancratium. Prop. Beautiful flowering bulbs, some 

 of which are acrid, and one poisonous. 



124. IRIDE*:. The Cornflag tribe. Ex. Iris, Sisyrinchium, 

 Trichonema. Prop. Flowers very beautiful, but fugitive. 

 The roots of some species are deleterious, others are ca- 

 thartic. 



125. ORCHIDEVE. The Orchis tribe. This order contains 

 many species, and is subdivided into several sections 

 Ex. 1. Neotica, Goodyera, Neottia, Listeria ; 2, Arethu- 

 f>e&, Pogonia, Calopogon, Epipactis, Arethusa, Aplec- 

 trum, Triphora; 3, Ophrydea, Orchis, Habenaria, Tipu 



