LILIALES 457 



years ago it was but little known to our European ancestors, and even 

 a century and a half ago it was one of the luxuries. (Simmonds.) 



Sorghum vulgare, Chinese Sugar Cane, a native of India, has within a 

 few years been brought into cultivation in the United States for its 

 sweet juice, from which molasses and sugar are made. One variety of 

 this species is the Broom Corn, used in the manufacture of brooms. 



Several species of Bamboo (Bambusa, sp.) growing in India become so x 

 large as to supply materials for building the houses of the natives. 



B. arundinicea sometimes attains the height of 30 metres (100 ft.). 

 Its uses are almost innumerable. 



Order Cyperacese. The Sedge Family. Herbaceous plants, with 

 three-angled solid stems, bearing alternate three-ranked leaves, with 

 entire sheaths. (Figs. 341-4.) 



There are about two thousand species of sedges, which are distrib- 

 uted throughout the world. They grow in tufts, never forming a con- 

 tinuous mat, and generally prefer wet localities. They are of little 

 value to man, and their stems contain so little nutritious matter that 

 they are eaten only to a limited extent by animals. 



Cyperus esculentus, the Chufa, a native of the Mediterranean region, 

 is somewhat cultivated for its small, sweet-tasting tubers. 



Cyperus textilis is used in India for making ropes and mats ; in Egypt 

 other species are used for the same purpose. 



Papyrus antiquonim, Papyrus, is a tall growing plant with stems 2-3 

 cm. (1 inch) in diameter. It is a native of Egypt and the adjacent 

 countries, and from it the inhabitants anciently made paper by slicing 

 its cellular pith, and afterward hammering and smoothing it. 



553. Cohort II. Bestiales. This includes three orders of 

 mostly tropical plants bearing glnmaceous flowers. 



Orders Restiacese, Eriocaulonacese, and Flagellarieae. 



554. Cohort III. Commelynales. Plants with a hexa- 

 merous perianth, in two whorls, the inner colored and petal- 

 oid. 



Orders Mayaceee, Xyridacese, and Commelynaceee. 



The latter contains the well-known Spiderwort Tradesrantia, sp.). 



555. Cohort IV. Pontederales. Marsh plants with a 

 gamophyllous petaloid perianth. 



Orders Philydreae, Pontederiacese, and Rapateee. 



556. Cohort V. Liliales. Plants with a hexamerous 

 (rarely tetramerous) perianth, the parts united or free, and 

 usually petaloid. 



Order Juncaceae. The Rushes. Natives of temperate and cold 



