444 



BOTANY 



The species Ephedra, found in the Mediterranean region, are shrubby plants with 

 slender branches devoid of foliage-leaves. The genus Ghietum (Tropical Asia and 

 America) comprises trees and lianes with large retieulately-veined leaves. The 



Fig. 375. — Taxas haccata. A, Branch with female flowers : *, two ovules on the same shoot (nat. 

 size) ; B, leaf with axillary, fertile shoot ( X 2) ; C, median longitudinal section of a primary 

 and secondary shoot ; v, vegetative cone of the primary shoot ; a, rudiments of the aril ; c, 

 rudiment of the embryo-sac ; n, nucellus ; i, integument ; m, micropyle (x 4S). — Poisonous. 



only species of the third genus, Welwitschia rrdrabilis (South-west Africa), one of 

 the most wonderful of all plants, has a thick, short, ovoid stem, which gives rise to 

 only two band-shaped leaves over a metre long ; as they continue to grow at the 

 base, the leaves gradually die at the apex, and are torn into segments. 



Class II 



ANGIOSPERMAE 



The Angiosperms constitute by far the greatest part of the vege- 

 tation of the earth. All grasses, herbaceous plants and shrubs, and, 



