DIV. II 



ANGIOSPERMAE 



737 



Order 5. Spadieiflorae 



The common character of this order is afforded by the peculiar 

 inflorescence ; this is a spike with a thick, swollen, often fleshy axis 

 and is termed a spadix. The flowers are mostly diclinous, 

 monoecious, or more rarely dioecious. 



Family 1. Typhaceae. Marsh plants, with long, linear leaves and long- 

 stalked spikes, which bear a large number of flowers, the male above, the female 

 lower down. Perianth wanting. 



FIG. 818. Terraced land in Ceylon for the cultivation of Rice. The water required for the young 

 plants flows from terrace to terrace through gaps in the boundary walls. In the foreground 

 Bananas, and to the right a Coffee plantation. In the centre Areca palms. (From a photograph.) 



Family 2. Sparganiaceae. Connected with the preceding family. Spikes 

 spherical. Flowers with a perigone, but otherwise like the Typhaceae. 



Family 3. Pandanaceae. Screw -pines. Trees of peculiar appearance, sup- 

 ported by prop-roots, or climbing shrubby plants ; all belong to the tropical 

 countries around the Indian Ocean and to the Pacific islands. Leaves elongated, 

 spiny, channelled above, arranged without bare internodes in three ranks on the 

 axis. Inflorescences, $ or ? , are terminal spikes in the axils of sheathing bracts. 

 Flowers without perianth, Pandanus (cf. Fig. 822 in front of the Palms), Freycinetia 

 (cf. p. 558). 



SB 



