500 CERATOPHYLLACE.& PODOSTEMACEJE STILAGIXACE-SI. 



and agreeable articles of food. Cecropia peltata is the Trumpet-wood, 

 so called on account of the hollowness of its stem and branches, which 

 are used for wind instruments. The fibrous bark of the tree is used 

 for cordage. 



1023. Order 167. Ceratophyiiacej, the Hornwort Family. (Apet. 

 Diclin.) Flowers unisexual Perianth inferior, 10-12-parted. Male 

 flowers: Stamens 12-20 ; anthers sessile, bilocular. Female flowers: 

 Ovary free, 1 -celled ; ovule solitary, pendulous, orthotropal ; style 

 filiform, oblique; stigma simple. Fruit a 1-celled indehiscent nut, 

 terminated by the hardened style. Seed solitary, pendulous, exalbu- 

 minous ; cotyledons 2, but apparently 4 ; radicle inferior. Aquatic 

 submersed herbs, with verticillate leaves cut into filiform lobes. They 

 are found in ditches in various parts of Europe, Asia, and America. 

 The affinities of the order are still obscure. Some authors consider 

 it as allied to Lythraceas, others to Chenopodiaceae, while Lindley puts 

 it in his Urtical alliance. Its properties are unimportant. There is 

 only 1 genus, and about 6 species. Example Ceratophyllum. 



1024. Order 168. Podostemaceie, the Podostemon Family. (Apet. 

 Monoclin.) Flowers naked, or with a more or less perfect perianth, 

 bursting through an irregularly -lacerated spatha. Stamens hypogy- 

 nous, definite or indefinite, distinct or monadelphous; anthers dithecal, 

 with longitudinal dehiscence. Ovary free, 2-3-celled ; ovules numer- 

 ous, anatropal, attached to a fleshy central placenta ; styles or stigmas 

 2 or 3. Fruit slightly pedicellate, capsular, 2-3-valved. Seeds 00 ; 

 embryo exalbuminous, orthotropal. Herbaceous, branched, floating 

 plants, with capillary, or linear, or lacerated, or minute and imbricated 

 leaves. Natives chiefly of South America, and of the islands to the 

 east of Africa. Little is known in regard to their properties. The 

 affinities of the order are not well determined. Some authors put it 

 among the Monocotyledons. There are 9 known genera, and 25 

 species, according to Lindley. Examples Podostemon, Lacis. 



1025. Order 169. Stiiaginacete, the Stilago Family. (Apet. Diclin.) 

 Flowers unisexual. Perianth 2-3- or 5-partite. Male flowers : Sta- 

 mens 2 or more, arising from a swollen receptacle ; filaments capillary ; 

 anthers innate, 2-lobed, with a fleshy connective, and vertical cells 

 opening transversely. Female flowers: Ovary free, 1-2-celled; ovules 

 2, anatropal; stigma sessile, 3-5-toothed. Fruit drupaceous. Seed 

 solitary, suspended ; embryo in fleshy albumen ; cotyledons leafy ; 

 radicle superior. Trees or shrubs, with alternate, stipulate leaves. 

 Natives chiefly of the East Indies. Some yield edible fruits, others 

 are used as potherbs. The position of this order in the natural system 

 is obscure. Lindley places it in the Urtical alliance, others consider 

 it as allied to Amentacese. There are 3 known genera, and about 20 

 species. Examples Stilago, Antidesma. 



1026. Order 170.- Moniiniaceie, the Monimia Family. (Apet. 



