THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 13 



species of Fir and Pine. To this order belongs Wellingtonia gigantea, the Mammoth 

 tree of California, 363 feet in height (about that of St. Paul's Cathedral, London), and 

 having a diameter of 31 feet. A portion of the bark of one of these trees is placed 

 round a framework at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, showing the enormous size of 

 this giant of the vegetable kingdom. (Figs. 92 to 102.) 



180. Cycadaceae, CTCADS. Trees or shrubs, in some respects resembling the 

 Palms, and in others the Ferns. These plants are found in the warm and temperate 

 parts of America and Asia, and at the Cape of Good Hope. There are 6 genera and 

 45 species. These plants yield starch and mucilaginous matter, the latter hardening 

 into a transparent gum. Some species furnish sago and a kind of arrow-root. (Fig. 103.) 



ENDOGENS. 



This great class of plants is distinguished by the following physiological peculi- 

 arities: 1. The wood is endogenous that is, increases by the addition of new woody 

 matter in the centre of the trunk. 2. The leaves are straight-veined (except in the 

 sub class, Dictyogenze), and are not jointed to the stem; consequently, do not readily 

 fail off when dead. 3. The organs of fructification are ternary. 4. The seeds have 

 only one cotyledon or seed-lobe. 



DICTTOGEN^J. 



Leaves reticulated. Ilhizomes mostly circular. 



181. Dioscoreaceae, YAMS. Twining shrubs, with large tubers, natives of tropical 

 regions. There are 6 genera, and lip species. Acridity prevails in these plants, 

 although a farinaceous matter is found in the tubers of some species. The latter, called 

 Yams, are used in warm countries as a substitute for the potato. (Fig. 104.) 



182. SmilaceSJ, "ARSAPARILLAS. Herbs or under-shrubs, often climbing. Found 

 in the temperate and tropical parts of Asia and America. There are 4 or 5 genera, 

 and about 120 species. These plants possess mucilaginous and demulcent properties. 

 The various species of Smilax furnish the sarsaparilla, which is used as a tonic and 

 alterative. 



183. Trilliaceae, PARIDS. Herbaceous plants, with tubers or rhizomes. Natives of 

 the temperate parts of Europe, Asia, and America. Some are narcotic, others more 

 or less acrid, and some emetic. Lindley mentions 4 genera, and 30 species. 



PETALOIDE^C. 



Flowers having usually a Perianth of verticillate leaves, or of a few whorled scales. 

 Occasionally the Perianth is abortive. 



184. Hydrocharidaceae, HYDROCHARADS. Floating or aquatic plants, found chiefly 

 in Europe, Asia, and North America. Their properties are not important; some are 

 mucilaginous and astringent. There are 12 genera, and 20 species. 



185. OrcMdaceae, ORCHID& Perennial herbs or shrubs, with showy flowers, found 

 in most parts of the world, and abounding in moist tropical regions. Lindley enu- 

 merates 396 genera, and about 3,000 species. Some of these plants are fragrant and 

 aromatic, others are mucilaginous. (Fig. 105 ) 



186 Zingiberaceae, GINGER WORTS. Tropical herbs, with a creeping rhizome and 

 frequently showy flowers. Their rhizomes and seeds have aromatic stimulant proper- 

 ties, and some species yield starch. The rhizome of Zingiber qfficinale constitutes the 

 Ginger of commerce. Curcuma longa furnishes Turmeric. Amomum, Elettaria, and some 

 other species, furnish Cardamoms and Grains of Paradise. Curcuma auguslifolia sup- 

 plies East Indian Arrow-root. There are 29 genera and 247 species. (Figs. 106, 107.) 



187. MarantaceaB, MARANTS. Herbaceous plants, with tuberous rhizomes, similar 

 to the Ginger Family, and natives likewise of the tropics. Lindley mentions 6 genera, 

 and 160 species. These plants contain starch in the rhizomes and roots. Arrow-root is 

 supplied by the tuberous rhizome of Maranta arundlnacece and M. indica, as well as 

 some other species. (See Fig. 108.) 



188. MusaceSB, MUSADS, or BANANAS. Stemless or nearly stemless plants, with 

 leaves sheathing at the base, and forming a kind of spurious stem. Natives of warm 

 and tropical regions. These plants furnish a large supply of nutritious fruit, and their 

 leaves yield valuable fibres. It is said that the same extent of ground which in wheat 

 would only maintain two persons will yield sustenance, under the Banana, to fifty. 

 Manilla Hemp is the produce of Musa textihs. 5 genera and 21 species. (Fig 109.) 



189. IridaceSB, IRIDS. Herbaceous plants, with rhizomes, or under ground corms. 

 Natives chit fly of warm and temperate regions, and abounding at the Cape of Good 

 Hope. There are 53 genera, and 550 species. Some species are fragrant and stimulant, 

 others acrid, and some yield dyes. The rhizome of Iris Florentina furnishes Orris-root. 

 Crocus sa tivus supplies the dye Saffron, which is also obtained from some other species. 



190. Burmanniaceae, BURMANNIADS. Tropical herbs, found in moist, grassy places. 

 Their properties are unimportant. There are 10 genera, and 35 species. 



191. HaBUlodoraceSB, BLOOD-ROOTS. Herbaceous plants, with fibrous roots. Found 



