534 



A TEXTBOOK OF BOTANY 



[On. XIII 



uses in food or med- 

 icine, some are poi- 

 sonous, and a few 

 are cultivated for 

 their attractive 

 flower clusters, nota- 

 bly Calla and An- 

 thurium (Flamingo 

 Flower), or for their 

 luxuriant foliage as 

 in case of Monstera 

 (Fig. 378). 



In this order be- 

 long the Duckweeds 

 (Lemnacece) , very 

 tiny floating plants 

 consisting of a 

 rounded leaf-like 

 shoot bearing the 



simplest of flowers, and a pendent root (Fig. 379). One of 



these, Wolffia, is the smallest known flowering plant, being 



in all not so large as a 



medium pin head. 



SERIES B. THE DIFFER- 

 ENTIATED MONOCOTY- 

 LEDONS. 



In these the cluster is 

 subordinate to the in- 

 dividual flower, which 

 becomes large, showy, 

 and regular, with the 

 floral parts in whorls, 



definite in number, I.e. FIG. 378. Monstera deliciosa; X rV 

 nmiflllv 3 parnpk fi The characteristic spadices are visible. 



Uly 6 carpels, > The plant ig native to Mexico . (From ^ 



Stamens (tWO Whorls), Maout and Decaisne.) 



FIG. 377. Carludovica palmata; X 

 (From Le Maout and Decaisne.) 



