498 
ANGIOSPERMS 
are tropical or subtropical, but they are quite extensively grown 
in greenhouses everywhere. 
Fig. 452. — A portion of a Lily in 
flower and also a single flower, show- 
ing the perianth consisting of six 
similar parts. After Lecomte. 
The flowers have three sepals, three 
petals, three to six stamens, 
and a pistil commonly of three 
united carpels. The flowers 
are borne on a spadix and en- 
closed in a spathe. The fruit 
is sometimes a berry, as in the 
Date, or nut-like, as in the 
Coconut. A number of the 
palms are valuable plants in 
the region where they grow. 
The Date Palm (Fig. 451) 
yields the dates of the market. 
The Coconut Palm yields the 
Coconuts of the market and is 
probably one of the most use- 
ful Palms to the natives, fur- 
nishing food, clothing, utensils of all kinds, building materials, 
etc. 
out the starch from the stems. A 
tree 15 years old will sometimes yield 
800 lbs. of starch. The Oil Palm of 
West Africa yields a fruit from which 
palm oil is obtained. 
Lily Family (Liliaceae). — The Lilies 
have a perianth of six parts and six 
stamens (Fig. 452). The pistil usually 
consists of three united carpels. Their 
flowers are often showy, and many of 
them, as the true Lilies, Hyacinths, 
Star of Bethlehem, Tulip, Day Lily, 
and Lily of the Valley, are ornamental 
plants. The Onion and Asparagus 
are common articles of food. Some, 
as the Aloe, Smilax, Colchicum, and 
Veratrum, yield valuable medicines. 
The Sago Palms yield Sago, which is prepared by washing 
Fia. 
Plant, one of the Agaves, 
showing the thick leaves and 
shape of the plant (x 73). 
453.— A Century 
One, called New Zealand Flax, is a valuable fiber plant. In 
another family closely related to the Lily family are the 
Agaves, of which the Century Plant (Fig. 453) is a familiar 
