348 PRACTICAL BOTANY 



among the most admired and highly prized of all ornamental 

 plants. The only important useful orchid is the vanilla plant, 

 a native of Mexico and the West Indies, from the unripe pods 

 of which vanilla is obtained. 



316. Useful products from other families. Many families of 

 monocotyledons yield single products of much value. A few 

 of the most important of these useful products are as follows : 



FIG. 283. Fruiting pineapple plants, Natal, South Africa 

 After Freeman and Chandler 



Fibers are secured from the Sedge family (genus Cyperus), 

 used in making East Indian and Chinese mattings, rfrom 

 the Amaryllis family, and from the Banana family. 



Edible roots and rootstocks are derived from the Yam family 

 and the Ginger family. 



Fruits of great value are produced by the Pineapple family 

 (Fig. 283) and the Banana family. Of these fruits the banana is 

 so important an article of food that some details may be given 

 in regard to its mode of growth and its place in our markets. 



