700 



BOTANY 



PART II 



Family Commelinaceae. — Tropical and sub-tropical. Perianth developed as 

 calyx and corolla. The hairs of the stamens afford well-known objects for the 



Fio. 761. — Diagram of a typical Liliaceous 

 flower. 



Fifi. 70'2. — Juticus lamprocarpus. a, Part of an iu- 

 ttorescence : single flower (&) and gynaeceum 

 (c) magnified. 



study of movements of protoplasm and nuclear divisions. 

 ConimeUna, Tradescantia. 



Fruit a capsule. 



Order 5. Liliiflorae (^*) 



Flowers actinomorphic, composed of five whorls, with superior or 

 inferior ovary. Both whorls of the perianth developed alike. Only 

 in the Iridaceae is one whorl of the androecium suppressed. The 

 gynaeceum varies in position, but it is always formed of three carpels 

 and in most cases has a trilocular ovary. 



Family 1. Juncaceae. — Plants of gi'ass-like habit. Flower of complete Lili- 

 aceous type; with scaly perianth. AVind- pollination. Pollen -grains united in 

 tetrads. Ovary superior, uni- or trilocular, bearing three, long, papillose stigmas. 

 Endosperm floury. Fruit a capsule. Distributed in the temperate zones of both 

 hemispheres. 



Numerous species of Juncus (Rush) occur in our Hora, in marshy ground ; the 

 leaves are cylindrical and have large intercellular spaces. The clusters of small, 

 anemophilous flowers (Fig. 762) are borne on the end of a shoot but are often dis- 

 placed to the side by the bract which continues the line of the axis. Fruits with 

 many seeds. Luzula, with flat leaves and three- seeded fruits, one of the earliest 

 spring-flowering plants. 



Family 2. Liliaceae. — Typical flower, with coloured, conspicuous 

 perianth. Ovary superior. EndosiDerm horny or fleshy. Divided 

 into three sub-families according to the construction of the fruit. 



