SECT. II 



PHANEROGAMIA 



515 



Family Ccratophyllaceae. — Flowers small and greenish, with polymerous peri- 

 gone, numerous stamens inserted upon a convex receptacle, and one carpel. A 



Fig. 472. — Xyinphaca alba. 1, Flower ; 2, flower-bud, cut through longitudinally ; 3, successive 

 stages in the transition from petals to stamens ; 4, fruit. (After Wossidlo.) 



small family of submerged water-plants (e.g. the Horn wort, Ceratophyllum de- 

 inersum), allied to the Nymphaeaceae. 



Family Magnoliaeeae. — Flowers as in the Banuiwulaceae, but the 

 pollen-grains have only ONE GERM-PORE. Woody plants with OIL- 

 CELLS. 



The Magnoliaeeae are forest trees of the tropical and temperate zones of Asia 

 and America, usually bearing large and beautiful flowers. Several species are 

 cultivated as ornamental trees (Magnolia, Liriode-ndron). 



The fruit of Illicium religiosum, indigenous to Japan, is poisonous, and also 

 that of I. anisatwm, the Star Anise, native of China. 



The Magnoliaeeae are closely related to the Anonaceae, a large and purely 

 tropical family, characterised especially by a ruminated endosperm ; they are also 

 allied to the Calyeanthaeeae (North America, North Asia) and Monimiaceae 

 (Southern Tropical Zone). Perigynous flowers are the distinguishing characteristic 

 of the two last-named families. 



Family Myristicaceae. — Flowers dicecious, cyclic; perianth simple, gamo- 

 phyllous ; stamens united ; ovary monomerous, with one ovule ; fruit resembling 

 a berry, but dehiscing at maturity ; seeds with branched aril (mace) and 

 ruminated endosperm (Fig. 473). Tropical forest trees of the Old and New "Worlds, 

 characterised by the occurrence of oil-cells. 



Officinal. — The seed freed from its outer integument (Semen Myristicae), and 

 also the aril (Mace ; Ol. Macidis) of the Nutmeg, Myristim fragrans, are officinal. 



