GENERAL CHARACTERS OF PLANTS 17 



Monocotyledons 



(Leaves usually with parallel veins. Parts of flower in 

 thi-ees or multiples of three) 



I. Perianth (see p. 11), coloiu-ed or petal-like, not scaly. (Some- 

 times absent.) 



A. Ovary inferior. 



1. Leaves with parallel veins^Oi'ders 77-80. 



2. Leaves with netted veins — Order 81. 



B. Ovary superior — Orders 82-88. 



II. Flowers without perianth, enclosed in scales or husks. 



A. Grassy herbs, with sohd stems ; leaves forming unsplit 



sheaths round the stem ; flowers in spikelets, with one 

 to three stamens — Oxder 89. 



B. Grassy herbs, with hollow stems; leaves generally forming 



split sheaths round the stem ; flowers generally 

 perfect, with tliree stamens — Order 90. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE NATURAL ORDERS 



1. Ranunculace^. — Herbs mostly with alternate leaves and regular 

 flowers. Sepals generally 5, distinct. Petals 5 or more. Stamens 12 

 or more. Pistil of many distinct carpels. Fruit of many one-seeded 

 achenes. (The Buttercup Family.) 



2. Berberidace.?;;. — Shrub with compound spines ; alternate, spiny 

 leaves ; and pendulous flowers. Sepals 6. Petals 0. Stamens 6. 

 Fruit a berry. (The Berberry Family.) 



3. Nymph^ace^. — Aquatic plants with floating leaves and solitary 

 flowers. Petals numerous, gradually passing into sepals outwards, and 

 into stamens inwards. Ovary of many cells, with many seeds. (The 

 Water-lily Family.) 



4. Papaverace^. — Herbs with a milky sap ; alternate leaves 

 without stipules ; and regular (generally nodding) flowers. Sepals 2, 

 deciduous. Fruit a capsule. Petals 4. Stamens many. Ovary one- 

 celled, but with many membranous, incomplete partitions. (The 

 Poppy Family.) 



5. FuiyiARiACE-B. — Herbs with much divided, exstipulate leaves ; 

 and racemes of small irregular, bracteate flowers. Sepals 2 or 0, de- 

 ciduous. Petals 4, irregular. Stamens 6, in two bundles. Ovary of 

 two carpels, one-celled. (The Fumitory Family.) 



G. Crucifer^s;. — Herbs with alternate, exstipulate leaves, and 

 racemes of regular flowers. Sepals 4. Petals 4, cruciform. Stamens 

 6, four longer and two shorter. Ovary one- or two-celled. Fruit a 

 siliqua. (The Cabbage Family.) 



7. Resedace^e. — Herbs or shrubs with alternate, exstipulate leaves ; 



