THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 15 



Ivory. The Date Palm furnishes food to the tribes of the Desert, and the Doom Palm 

 of Egypt is called the Gingerbread Tree, from the resemblance of its mealy rind to 

 that article. Palm oil is obtained chiefly from Elais guineensis, and melanococca, and 

 these trees are also said to yield the best Palm wine. The Ceroxylon andicola, or Wax 

 Palm of Humboldt, has its trunk covered with a coating of wax, which exudes from 

 the spaces between the insertion of the leaves. (See Figs. 116 to 125.) 



202. Cominelynaceae, SPIDER- WORTS. Herbaceous plants of warm climates. Some 

 have fleshy rhizomes, containing a starchy matter, which is used for food. There are 

 17 genera, and 264 species. 



203. Alismaceas, ALISMADS. Aquatic plants, natives both of tropical and tempe- 

 rate climates. Their properties are unimportant. There are 5 genera and about 70 species. 



204. ButomaceJB, BUTOMADS, or FLOWERING- RUSHES. Aquatic plants, often lac- 

 tescent. Found chiefly in marshes of northern countries. Some of them have bitter 

 and acrid properties. Lindley mentions 4 genera, and 7 species. 



205. Pandanaceae, SCREW-PINES. Trees or bushes, sometimes sending down aerial 

 roots. Natives of tropical regions, and common in the islands of the Indian Archi- 

 pelago. There are 7 genera and 75 species. Their flowers are generally fragrant, and 

 their seeds are used as food. The roots of these remarkable trees are sent down from 

 all parts of their stems, and appear like artificial props. (Fig. 126.) 



206. Araceae, ARUMS. Herbaceous or shrubby plants, sometimes with tubers or 

 creeping rhizomes. They occur in various parts of the world, abounding in the tropics. 

 These plants have been arranged in four orders, as follows: 1. Arineae, Cuckoo-pint 

 tribe. 2. Typhinese, Bulrush tribe. 3. Acoreae, Sweet- flag tribe. 4. Pistieae, Duck- 

 weed tribe. The order includes 47 genera and 273 species. Their general property 

 is acridity, and some of the plants are dangerous poisons. The rhizomes of some 

 species yield starchy matter, and when boiled or roasted are used as food. Some of 

 these plants send out aerial roots, by means of which they climb upon trees. (Fig. 127.) 



207. Naiadacese, NAIADS, or PONDWEEDS. Water plants of both the ocean and fresh 

 water. They are found in various parts of the world, but have no properties of import- 

 ance. There are 19 known genera, and upwards of 70 species. 



208. RestiaceSB, RESTIADS, or CORD-RUSHES. Herbaceous plants or under-shrubs. 

 They are found chiefly in America and Australia, and are without important pro- 

 perties. The tough, wiry stems of some species are used for making baskets and 

 brooms. There are 36 genera, and 286 species. 



209 Cyperaceae, SEDGES. Grass-like herbs growing in tufts, with solid stems, 

 sometimes creeping, often angular, and without joints. They are found in all quarters 

 of the globe, and at all elevations; many species occur in marshy ground. Lindley 

 mentions 112 ge'nera, and 2,000 species. This order includes the Papyrus of the Nile, 

 the plant anciently used in the manufacture of paper. Some species of Cyperus have 

 tubers which are used as food, and the roots of others have been employed as bitter 

 tonics. The stems of some are used for chair bottoms. 



210. Gramine33, GRASSES. Herbaceous plants, with cylindrical, hollow, and jointed 

 stems, called culms. The grasses are found in all parts of the world, and are said to 

 form about one twenty-second part of all known plants. In tropical regions they 

 frequently occur as trees. Lindley enumerates 291 genera, including about 3,800 

 species. To the section of grasses supplying food for man belong the nutritious cereal 

 grains, as Wheat, Oats, Barley, Eye, Rice, Maize, Millet, &c. Sugar is also obtained 

 from many grasses, known as sugar canes. To the herbage grasses, affording food for 

 animals, belong the various pasture grasses, as Rye grass, Meadow grass, &c. In the 

 warmer parts of the world, the fodder grasses attain the height of five or six feet, but 

 are yet sufficiently tender to be used as animal food. *(Figs. 128 to 133.) 



211. Rhizantlieae, RIIIZANTHS, or RHIZOGENS. Leafless, scaly, parasitic plants, 

 having a fungus-like appearance, and of a brown yellow or purple colour. These plants 

 are frequently stemleas, but have sometimes a creeping rhizome. They are found 

 chiefly in tropical climates, and are employed as styptics. There are 21 genera, and 

 53 species. To this order belong the species of Rafflesia, gigantic parasites, the perianth 

 of which is frequently three feet in diameter. (Fig. 134). 



CRYPTOGAMOUS, OR CELLULAR FLOWERLESS PLANTS. 

 ACROGENS. 



The most simple form of plants; their structure mostly entirely cellular; their 

 propagation effected by means of spores. 



ACROGEN2E. 



Having usually distinct stems, leaves, stomata, some vascular tissue, and thecse or 



spore cases. 



212. Equisetacese, HORSE-TAILS. Leafless branched plants, with a striated fistular 



