296 BIOLOGY. 



to three ; for this is the first number, in which the leaf- 

 ribs may divide. Corollse, stamina, and capsules are 

 ternary trinity -plants. 



1596. As the seed is only an undeveloped leaf-bud, 

 so in it only can the number of the leaf be found. Since, 

 however, the leaf does not ramify in the present group of 

 plants, but is only a single spathose leaf; so also does 

 the seed consist only of one such leaf or of one seed-lobe 

 Monocotyledones. The wheat-seed or grain is none 

 other than a grass-leaf with a short spathe and very dense, 

 highly farinaceous, lamellae. In germinating a new leaf 

 emerges from the short spathe ; it is the germinal leaf. 



1597. Thus plants having a tubular stem, and such 

 kind of foliage, corollae and seeds, are Monocotyledones. 



1598. The chemical bodies are more diversified in 

 these than in the remaining members of the vegetable 

 kingdom. In the roots, as in the tubers of the Orchidese 

 we meet with distinct mucilage ; in the bulbs with al- 

 kalies or acrid matter ; and with sugar, as being a feeble 

 conversion of the starch in the stalk. The mucilage of 

 the root becomes, when repeated in the seed, flour. 

 Oily matters or acids seldom occur, and fleshy fruits 

 scarcely ever. 



1599. The ovary is almost throughout this region of 

 plants either a single spathose leaf or caryopsis ; or three 

 spathe-leaves are united together, which thus, as follicles 

 or carpels, usually burst open upon the internal edge. 



DIVISION. 



1600. If we now proceed to survey the Monocotyle- 

 dons, in the order just set before us, we shall recognize 

 among them three typical groups, to which the others 

 are allied; they are the Graminese, Liliaceae, and Palmacese. 



1601. The Grasses obviously rank the lowest as well 

 in respect of their root, stalk, and foliage, as also of their 

 stunted blossoms, ovarium, and seeds. 



1602. To them succeed the Lilies, which have a well- 

 marked root, a more perfect, though still always her- 

 baceous, stalk, and a few spathoid, more numerously 



