128 THE SCIENCE OF LIFE. 



medicine, materials for clothing, baskets, mats, and with 

 almost all other necessaries of their simple life. Musa 



FIG. 52. Banana, (Musa sapientum.) 



textilis supplies a flax-like fiber, from which some of the 

 finest Indian muslins are made. 



7. The ARROW-ROOT family, (Marantacea^ the PINE- 

 APPLE family, (Bromeliacece^) and the GINGER family. 

 (Zingiberacece^) contain many useful species of Endogens. 

 Here also are classed many of the showy flowers of our 

 gardens and hot-houses. The IRIS family, (Iridacece^) 

 containing the Iris, Gladiolus, and Crocus, etc. ; the 

 singular aquatic plants of the Hydrocharidaceae, as Hy- 

 drocharis and Valisneria ; and the AMARYLLIS family, 

 (Amaryllidacece^) embracing the Daffodil, Amaryllis, and 



