ANGIOSPERME 189 
ble, however, that the two families are not closely re- 
lated, and the sedges are probably more nearly related 
to some other group of Monocotyledons, possibly the 
Rushes (Juncacee) than to the grasses. Whether the 
simple type of flower found in the grasses and sedges 
Fic. 46 (Monocotyledons — Liliiflore).— A, a plant of yellow adder-tongue 
(Erythroniun), atypical liliaceous plant; B, the underground thickened 
stem or bulb, with the simple roots growing from it; C, the pistil, com- 
posed of three united carpels; D, diagram showing the arrangement of 
the parts of the’flower; E, flower of Narcissus, differing from the true 
lilies in having an “inferior ’’ ovary, 0; F, flower of an Iris, a highly 
specialized flower adapted to insect pollination; G, cross-section of the 
stem of Iris, showing the arrangement of the tissues in a typical mono- 
cotyledonous stem; vb, the vascular bundles; H, a flower of the pick- 
erel-weed (Pontederia); the flower is strongly ‘‘zygomorphic,’’ é.e, 
bilaterally symmetrical, and the stamens are in two sets. 
is primitive, or whether it is the result of reduction from 
a more complex one, must remain for the present unde- 
cided. 
All of the higher Monocotyledons are distinguished 
by much more specialized flowers than those found in 
the forms just considered. This specialization mani- 
