ATTRACTIONS OF PLANT LIFE. 



301 



Orchid Life. This curious family of plants (for which 

 Australia is specially notable) offers most interesting 



botanical study. There are two 

 distinctive branches of orchids, 

 one of which grows from the 

 ground like other plants, and has 

 lily, or iris-like leaves, as a rule. 

 The others are epiphytes, which 

 means those plants that lodge 

 upon or grow upon others by a 

 system of hair-like grippers, 

 having bulb-like terminations. 

 The pollen and pistil late arrange- 

 ments of the family, as a rule, 

 are such as make insect action 

 for their development a neces- 

 sity. Without this insect help, 



orchids would have passed out of existence, as many other 

 families of plants have done, and we would have none of 

 the butterfly, bee, beetle, spider, boot, slipper, or other 

 curious forms taken by those wonderfully attractive 

 flowers. 



The Pea Family. The ' legumes " of botanists are 

 classified by bearing the seeds in pods. It is a family of 

 immense extent, forming a thirtieth part of the known 

 plant life of the world. The welcome pea of our gardens, 

 the lucerne and the mighty Moreton Bay chestnut, the 

 wattles and myals of the Australian bush corne into this 

 order. 



Australian Gums. The eucalyptus another great 

 family are classified in a general way by their bark. The 

 gums usually are the smooth-bark trees. The leaves and 

 timbers aid in the classification and are peculiar. The oily 

 sacs of the leaves, which contain the essential odors of the 

 family, are visible when held to a bright light. Some of 

 the leaves are richly scented, and all are healthful. 



Figs. This is another curious family, especially in 

 the formation of the seeds and fruit. Australian plants of 

 this order have been termed vegetable snakes or 

 pythons, by reason of the enormous strength of 



