SECT. II 



PHANEROGAMIA 



695 



Family 1. Typhaceae. — ^Marsli plants, -with long, linear leaves and long- 

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

 lower down. Perianth wanting. 



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

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



Family 3. Pandanaceae. — Trees of peculiar appearance, supported by prop- 

 roots, or climbing, shrubby plants ; all belong to the tropical countries around the 

 Indian Ocean and to the Pacific islands. Growth in thickness as in Palms. Leaves 

 elongated spiny, channelled above, arranged without bare internodes in three 

 ranks on the axis. InHorescences, S or ? , are terminal spikes in the axils of 



sheathing In'acts. Flowers with- 



out perianth, Pandanus (cf. Fig. 

 7fi8 in front of the Palms), 



Frcycinetia (cf. p. 497). 



Family +. Palmae (''-). 

 ^The Palms are an exclus- 

 ively tropical and sub- 



FlG. 



jO. — (Jul 0-iiut.'! uu the .stem. 



Fio. 7')7. — Coco-nut after partial re- 

 moval of the fibrous exocarp. (After 

 Warming, reduced.) 



tropical family, the members of which mostly attain the size of 

 trees. Their slender stem is simple and usually of uniform diameter 

 throughout; only the African species of Hypluu'ne have branched 

 stems. Other forms show evident growth in thickness towards the 

 base and sometimes for half the height of the stem ; this either 

 depends on enlargement of the elements already present, or to a 

 limited extent on new formation of tissues when required. The leaves, 

 wdiich are often of gigantic size, form a terminal crown. They are 

 either pinnately or palmately divided, the division coming about by 

 the death of definite portions of tissue in the young leaf in the bud, 

 and subsequent tearing along these lines. The inflorescence is in 

 some cases terminal (Metroxylon), and the individual perishes Avith the 

 development of the fruits. More often the inflorescences are axillary. 

 When young, they are enclosed by a massive resistant sheath, the 



