'571 ORCHIDACE.E. [Orchis. 



Class II. 



MONOCOTYLEDONOUS or ENDOGENOUS PLANTS. 



Cellular and vascular. Stem (when perennial) not increasing 

 by a succession of annular layers on the outside of the old ones, 

 usually with no distinction of bark, wood, pith or medullary rays, 

 but consisting of cellular tissue, in which the vascular is inserted 

 in confused bundles, or in a single ring, the newest formation 

 being internal. Leaves mostly alternate below, often sheathing, 

 permanent and withering on the stem, more rarely jointed and 

 deciduous, with usually parallel nerves connected by simple trans- 

 verse veins, rarely nettle-veined. Flowers with a single perianth 

 (or without one), the parts mostly arranged in a ternary manner, 

 sometimes when in a double row the external one green and 

 resembling a calyx. Embryo with one cotyledon, or if apparently 

 two they are alternate. Plumule and radicle either within the coty- 

 ledon, or lodged in a cleft in its side, or attached to its flat face. 



Subclass I. Florida. 



Flowers never glumaceous, sometimes naked or nearly so (as 

 in Araceae, Pistiacete, Naiadacese and Juncaginacefe), generally 

 with a more or less coloured perianth, the pieces of which are in 

 a single or double whorl. 



Order LXXII. ORCHIDACE^. 



" Perianth of 6 segments in 2 rows, mostly coloured ; one, the 

 lowest (so situated from the twisting of the ovary), usually differ- 

 ing in form from the rest and often spurred. Stamens 3, united 

 with the style in a central column, the two lateral ones usually 

 abortive, sometimes the central one (in Cj^pripedium). Anther 

 often deciduous, 2 — 4—8 celled. Pollen powdery or frequently 

 cohering in waxy masses. Ovary 1-celled, with 3 parietal recep- 

 tacles. Style forming part of the column with the stamens. 

 Stigma a viscid space in front of the column. Capsule (rarely a 

 berry) 3-valved. Seeds numerous ; testa loose, reticulated. Al- 

 bumen 0." — Br. Fl. 



Order LXXII b. HYDEOCHAEIDACE^. 



Hydrocharis Morsus-Rance, L. (common Frog-bit), is not indigenous to the Isle 

 of Wight, but is abundantly naluvalized in the pool on Barrett's common, two 

 miles and a half from Ryde. 



