156 



BOTANY. 



either a pod, like that of the adder's-tongue, or a berry, like 

 that of asparagus or Solomon' s-seal. 



Differing from the true lilies in having the bases of the peri- 

 gone leaves adherent to the surface of the ovary, so that the 

 latter is apparently below the flower (inferior), and lacking 

 the inner circle of stamens, is the iris family (/n'daceee), repre- 

 sented by the wild blue-flag (Iris versicolor) (Fig. 84, A, JE), 

 as well as by numerous cultivated species. In iris the carpels 

 are free above and colored like the petals (B), with the stigma 

 on the under side. Of garden flowers the gladiolus and crocus 

 are the most familiar examples, besides the various species of 

 iris; and of wild flowers the little "blue-eyed grass" (Sisy- 

 rinchium) . 



The blue pickerel- weed 

 (Pontederia) is the type of a 

 family of which there are few 

 common representatives (Fig. 

 84, I, A')- 



The last family of the order 

 is the BromeliacecK, all inhabi- 

 tants of the warmer parts of the 

 globe, but represented in the 

 southern states by several 

 forms, the commonest of which 

 is the so-called "gray moss " 

 ( Tillandsea ) (Fig. 84, F, H) . Of 

 cultivated plants the pineapple, 

 whose fruit consists of a fleshy 

 mass made up of the crowded fruits and the fleshy flower 

 stalks, is the best known. 



FIG. 85. Enantioblastse. A , inflo- 

 rescence of thecommon spiderwort 

 (Tradescantia) , x y 2 (Comme- 

 lyneee). B, a single stamen, show- 

 ing the hairs attached to the fila- 

 ment, x 2. C, the pistil, x 2. 



ORDER II. Enantioblastce. 



The second order of the monocotyledons, Enantioblastaz, 

 includes very few common plants. The most familiar exam- 



