ENDOGENJE FLORIDA. 183 



Stamens 6, sometimes 3. Ovary 1- or 3-celled. Stigmas 

 generally 3. Fruit capsular, with 3 valves. Seeds neither 

 black nor crustaceous ; albumen firm ; embryo within it. 



USES. Unimportant. Used for making mats and similar 

 objects. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Juncus, Luzula. 



172. Commelynacete. Herbaceous plants. Leaves usually 

 sheathing. Sepals 3, inferior, herbaceous. Petals coloured, 

 sometimes cohering at the base. Stamens hypogynous, some 

 deformed. Ovary 3-celled; stigma 1. Capsule 2- or 3-celled. 

 Seeds often twin ; embryo pulley-shaped, in a cavity remote 

 from the hilum ; albumen fleshy. 



USES. Unknown. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Commelyna, Tradescantia. 



1 73. Butomacete. Aquatic plants. Leaves very cellular, 

 often milky. Sepals 3, inferior, herbaceous. Petals 3, coloured. 

 Stamens definite or indefinite. Ovaries 3, 6, or more. Fol- 

 licles many-seeded. Seeds minute, attached to the whole of 

 the inner surface of the fruit. 



USES. Unimportant. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Limnocharis, Butomus. 



174. Palmaceee. Stem simple, rarely forked. Leaves 

 terminal, very large, pinnate, or flabelliform, plaited in ver- 

 nation. Spadix enclosed in a valved spatha. Flowers small, 

 hermaphrodite, or polygamous. Perianth 6-parted, persistent. 

 Stamens inserted into the base of the perianth, definite or 

 indefinite. Ovary 3-celled, or deeply 3-lobed, with an erect 

 ovule. Fruit baccate or drupaceous. Albumen cartilaginous 

 or fleshy ; embryo in a cavity at a distance from the hilum. 



USES. The Cocoa-nut, whose whole structure appears use- 

 ful, independently of its agreeable fruit, is the produce of Cocos 

 nucifera ; the tough coarse fibre of this plant is manufactured 

 into the elastic cables called Coir-rope. The Date-tree is 

 the Phoenix dactylifera. Sago, a nutritious starchy substance, 

 is secreted in the trunks of several species, especially of Sagus 

 Isevis and Caryota urens. The sugary nature of their sap, and 

 its great abundance, enables the natives of Palm countries to 

 obtain an intoxicating beverage called Palm wine from others. 



