TAXONOMY 



299 



ers generally hermaphroditic and borne in spikelets, making 

 up a spicate inflorescence. Lowest floral leaves of each spikelet are 

 called glumes, which are empty and paired. Fruit, a caryopsis or 

 grain. Embryo with scutellum. Seeds, albuminous. Seed coat 

 fused with fruit coat to form one layer. 



Official drug 



Triticum 

 Saccharum 



Maltum 



Amylum 

 Zea N.F. 



Part used 



Botanical name 



Habitat 



Rhizome and roots Agropyron repens Europe and Asia 



Styles and stigmas Zea Mays 



Mexico 



II. Order Principles. Palmea or Palm Family. Tropical or sub- 

 tropical shrubs, rarely trees, having unbranched trunks which are 

 terminated by a crown of leaves, in the axils of which the flowers are 

 produced. The leaves are well developed with pinnate or palmate 

 blades and a fibrous sheathed clasping petiole. The flowers are 

 small, of one or two sexes, and crowded on a spike or spadix, which is 

 subtended by a large bract, or spathe which may become woody, as 

 in the Cocoanut Palm. The perianth consists of 6 parts in 2 whorls 

 (3 sepals and 3 petals) or it may be inconspicuous or absent. The 

 stamens are 6 in number, rarely 3, inserted below the ovary. The 

 ovary is superior, of 3 cells, with central placenta. The fruit is 

 either a nut, with leathery epicarp, fibrous or cellular mesocarp and 

 thin membranous endocarp, or a drupe (Cocoanut) with leathery 

 epicarp, broadly fibrous mesocarp and stony endocarp, or a berry 

 as in the Date Palm, Phoenix, with membranous epicarp, succulent 

 mesocarp and soft succulent endocarp. The seeds are albuminous 

 with the reserve food frequently in the form of hard cellulose (ivory- 

 nut-palm). 



