Statistics. 213 



Statistics of the Vegetable Kingdom, continued. 



Orchidaceae, the Orchid family, includes som 5,000 singular 

 herbs, distributed through 334 genera. Many of the species 

 are epiphytes, that is, growing above ground on other plants. 

 The species are the most specialized, perhaps, of any order, 

 and they are usually uncommon or rare. A number of showy 

 species grow in the United States, the best known of which are 

 the lady-slippers. Our species usually inhabit bogs or deep 

 woods. 



Over 2,000 species, in 187 genera, comprise Liliaceae, or the 

 Lily family. Some of the species are tree-like. Here belong 

 the onion, asparagus, tulip, aloes, yuccas, hellebore, and many 

 choice ornamental plants. Of lilies, there are about 45 species, 

 tulips in the neighborhood of 50, and of hyacinths about 30. 



The Palm family, Palmse, includes 1,100 or more species 

 and 132 genera. Many species produce edible fruits, the best 

 known in our markets being the date and cocoanut. 



The Graminese or Grass family is the most important order 

 of plants. Besides all the grasses, it furnishes all the cereal 

 grains, including Indian corn and the sugar cane. Genera 

 about 300 ; species over 3,000. 



There are about 74 genera of ferns or Filices, and in the 

 neighborhood of 2,400 species. Some of the species attain to 

 the size of small trees. 



