172 COLONSAY 



the gullies in the natural woods. The plant was frequently 

 applied to festering sores. The berries are said to cause 

 headache when eaten in quantity. Grouse are fond of 

 them; boiled with alum they produce a dark purple dye. 

 C. Badge of the M'Leans. Caor Fionoige, I. 



Class II. MONOCOTYLEDONS 



Monocotyledons comprise about a quarter of our native 

 plants grass-like, bulbous, or aquatic herbs. Palmacese is 

 one of the most important orders, almost wholly tropical, of 

 this class, furnishing food, housing, and utensils to the 

 inhabitants of warm climates. Dates, coco-nuts, oil, sugar, 

 starch, vegetable ivory, canes, etc., are among the many 

 natural products, and mats, brooms, brushes, textile fabrics 

 etc., manufactured articles, of this large order which find 

 their way into commerce. To another important tropical 

 order (Scitaminse) belong the ginger, arrowroot, banana, 

 plantain, manilla hemp, etc. Starchy matter from the 

 stem of various species of palm is one of the sources of 

 sago. 



ORCHIDACEJ; (the Orchid family) 



An interesting order, abundant in moist tropical forests, 

 and comprising the loveliest flowering plants. In temperate 

 climates they are usually terrestrial, but in the tropics many 

 are epiphytes and grow on the stems and branches of trees. 

 Vanilla is the dried aromatic fruit of a tall, climbing West 

 Indian Orchid. Salep, a nutritious food, is obtained from the 

 tubers of various terrestrial kinds. The many beautiful 

 species introduced are grown in this country in hothouses 

 specially built for their requirements. All the following 

 species are perennials. They live from year to year by forming 

 each season a new tuber beside the old one, which withers 

 after flowering. 



