SECT. II 



PHANEROGAMIA 



583 



and composed of trimerous whorls. Androecium of four whorls, some 

 of which frequently consist of staminodes or are wanting. Anthers 

 opening by valves. Filaments sometimes bearing glands. Carpels 3, 

 coherent to form an unilocular ovary with one, pendulous ovule. 



Fio. .J72. — Sassafras officinale. (Inat. size. After Berg and Schmidt.) 1, Male inflorescences on 

 a still leafless branch. 2, Fruits on a leafy shoot. 3, Male flower. !,, Female flower. 5, 6, 

 Closed stamens of the two outer whorls. 7, Opened stamen of the innermost whorl. S, Ovary 

 showing the style and the o\nile. Official. 



Fruit, a berry or drupe. Endosperm wanting. Floral formula, P 3 + 3, 

 A3 + 3 + 3 + 3, G3. 



The family is distributed especially in the tropics and sub-tropics. 



Important Genera and Species (*^). — Laurus nobilis, the Laurel, is a 

 dioecious, evergreen tree of the Mediterranean region, which was well known in 

 the early period of the Grecian civilisation ; it is frequently grown in cool green- 



