TAXUS.] CONIFERS. 349 



very small, of several imbricate scarious empty scales, and one peltate 

 3-8-celled anther. FEMALE CONE of a few minute scales, and 1 terminal 

 erect ovule seated on a fleshy disk, which enlarges into a red fleshy cup 

 containing the seed. Seed ovoid, subcompressed, testa bony ; cotyledons 

 2, short, radicle superior. DISTRIB. N. temp, regions from the Atlas, 

 Taurus, Himalaya and Mexico to the Arctic circle. ETYM. T^OV, from 

 the wood being used in making bows. 



1 . T. bacca'ta, L. ; leaves linear more or less falcate acute. 

 Rocky glens, hill -sides and woods, from Aberdeen and Argyle southwards ; 

 ascending to 1,500 ft. in Northumberland ; rare in a native state ; fl. March. 

 Trunk 15-50 ft. in England, much loftier in India ; sometimes 27 ft. in 

 girth (Hounslow), channelled ; bark thin, flaking ; branches spreading. 

 Leaves ^-l^in., coriaceous, shining above, paler beneath. Male catkins 

 \ in., yellow ; female minute ; scales green. Fruit J in. ; cup red, mucila- 

 ginous ; seed olive-green, punctulate. DISTRIB. Of the genus. I believe 

 the 6 supposed species of this genus to be forms of one. T. fastiyia'ta, 

 Lindl. (Irish or Florence-court yew), is a fastigiate variety. 



CLASS II. MONOCOTYLE'DOXS. 



DIVISION I. PETALOI'DE^E. 



ORDER I. HYDROCHAR'IDEJE. 



Aquatic herbs. Leaves aerial floating or submerged, opposite or whorled, 

 convolute in bud. Flowers usually dioecious, buds enclosed in one or more 

 spathaceous bracts. MALE. Perianth of 6 segments in 2 series (rarely 0), 

 3 inner often petaloid, imbricate or valvate in bud. Stamens on the base 

 of the segments, 3 and opposite the sepals, or more and in 2 or more 

 series, filaments free or connate below ; anthers adnate. Ovary rudimen- 

 tary. FEMALE. Perianth superior, 6-partite. Staminodes various, some- 

 times antheriferous. Ovary 1- or 3-6-celled; styles 3 or 6, 2-fid, free 

 or connate below, stigmas decurrent ; ovules many, ascending. Fruit 

 usually baccate, submerged, 1-6-celled. Seeds many or few, on pulpy pro- 

 jecting placentas, testa firm, albumen ; embryo straight, plumule lateral, 

 radicle next the hilum. DISTRIB. All climates ; genera 10 ; species about 

 20. AFFINITIES. With Alismacece. PROPERTIES unimportant. 



Leaves orbicular floating 1. Hydrocharis. 



Leaves ensiform serrate submerged 2. Stratiotes. 



Leaves linear opposite or whorled, submerged 2*. A nacliaris. 



1. HYDROCHARIS, L. FROG-BIT. 



A floating herb. Leaves orbicular, quite entire. MALE fl. 2-3, sub- 

 umbelled ; spathe peduucled, 2-leaved. Sepals 3, herbaceous. Petals 3, 



