CYCADACE^. (CTCAS FAMILY.) 437 



Order 133. CYCADACE^. (Cycas Family.) 



Trees or shrubs, with simple trunks, increasing by a terminal bud, like 

 the Palms, and composed of a large pith, mixed with woody bundles or 

 plates, enclosed in a cylinder of woody fibre and spiral vessels. Leaves 

 pinnate, coiled in the bud, like Ferns. Flowers dioecious, destitute of 

 calyx and corolla. Sterile flowers consisting of 1-celled anthers inserted 

 under the peltate scales of a cone-like ament. Fertile flowers consisting 

 of naked ovules inserted under the scales like the sterile flowers, or on 

 the margins of contracted leaves. Seed nut-like. Embryo in the axis of 

 the albumen. Radicle ending in a long spiral cord. Cotyledons 2. 



1. ZAMIA, L. 



Flowers in cone-like aments, with the peltate scales inserted on all sides of the 

 common rachis. Anthers numerous. Ovules by pairs, pendnloUs. Seed round- 

 ish, drupe-like. — Leaflets thickened at the base and articulated with the petioles, 

 with numerous simple veins. 



1. Z. integrifolia, Willd. (Coontie.) Stem short, globular or oblong ; 

 leaves petioled, spreading, with the numerous lanceolate or linear-lanceolato leaf- 

 lets entire, or serrate near the apex ; aments oblong, obtuse, short-peduneled, — 

 Low grounds, South Florida. — The stem abounds in starch, from which the 

 Florida Arrowroot is obtained. 



Class II. MONOCOTYLEDONOUS or ENDOGENOUS PIANTS. 



Stems composed of cellular tissue and scattered bundles 

 of woody fibre and vessels, destitute of proper pitb, bark, or 

 concentric layers, and increasing in diameter by the deposi- 

 tion of new fibrous bundles. Leaves mostly alternate, entire, 

 and parallel- veined, commonly sheathing at the base, seldom 

 falling off by an articulation. Floral envelopes usually by 

 threes. Cotyledons single. 



Oedeb 134. PALM-S:. (Palms.) 



Chiefly trees, with a thick woody stem (eaudex), growing by a terminal 

 bud, pinnate or fan-shaped leaves, which are plaited in the bud, and a 

 spadix of small perfect or polygamous flowers. Sepals and petals 3, free 

 or more or less united, persistent. Stamens mostly 6, hypogynous or pe- 

 rigynous : anthers 2-celled, introrse. Ovary 3-celled, commonly with a 

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