338 MONOCOTYLEDONS. 



Class II. MONOCOTYLEDONS. 



Stem not distinguishable into pith, wood, and bark, but, when perennial, 

 consisting of bundles of fibres irregularly imbedded in cellular tissue, with a 

 firmly adherent rind outside. Seeds with one cotyledon, the embryo undi- 

 vided, the young stem being developed from a sheath-Hke cavity on one side. 



Besides the above characters, Monocotyledons may be generally known by their simple en- 

 tire alternate or radical leaves with simple parallel veins, the base usually encircling or 

 sheathing the stem or the base of the next leaf; and the parts of the flower are most fre- 

 quently in threes, the calyx and corolla, when present, being generally similar in appearance, 

 forming a perianth of six parts. In several families, however, the perianth is wholly want- 

 ing, or the parts reduced in number when irregular, or in the Ncdadete in twos or fours ; the 

 leaves are exceptionally pinnately ot netted- veined in Scitmnineig, in mosi, Aroideee, in Dios- 

 coride/s and in Smilax, The stem is woody in the Palms, Screw Fines (Pandamis^, and 

 Bamboos. 



* Stem woody. Flowers 6-merous, in a panicle with a spatlia. 



CIV. Paim«. 



** Ferianth or of small scales. Ovaries and stamens crowded in heads or spikes. 



CV. Pandanace^. Flowers in heads or branched spikes. Anthers stalked. (Stem woody. 

 Leaves long, prickly at the edge.) 



CVI. AKOIDE.E. Flowers on a simple spadix, with a spatha. Anthers sessile. Leaves 

 sheathing at the base, often net-veined. 



*** Ovaries apocarpous. 



CVII. Naiades. Floating plants. Perianth or of 1 to 4 scales. Carpels 1, 2, or 4. 

 CVIII. Alismace^. Perianth 6-merous. Carpels 3, 6, or more. Aquatic or marsh 

 plants, usually erect. 



**** Ovary inferior. Ferianth usually 6-merons in 2 series. 



CIX. HYDEOOHAKIDE.E. Aquatic plants. Flowers unisexual. Female perianth with a 

 tube, male without. No albumen. 



OX. SciTAMiNE^. Flowers irregular, with 1 to 5 perfect stamina, the remainder of the 

 normal 6 being petal-like and barren or wanting. Seeds albuminous. Leaf-veins usually 

 pinnate. 



CXI. Okchide.«. Flowers irregular. Anthers 1 or rai'ely 2, sessile on a column bearing 

 the stigma. Embryo homogeneous, 



CXII. BuBMANNiACEJD. Perianth 3- or 6-lobed. Stamens 3 or 6. Ovarr l-celled 

 with 3 parietal placentas. Envbryo homogeneous. ' ' 



CXIII. Ikide«. Perianth of 6 segmenta,^ usually petal-like. Stamens 3. Qvary S-cdled. 

 Seeds albumiuous. 



CXIV. AMAKYLWDEiE. PeiTanth of 6 segments, usually petal-Kke. Stamens 6. Ovary 

 3-celled. Seeds albuminous. 

 CXV. DioscoKiDEiB. Flowers unisexual. Ovai-y 3-ceUed. Twiners. Seeds albuminous. 



***** Ovary superior, syncarpous. Ferianth usually 6-merous, in 2 series. 

 CXVI. LiLiACEiE. Perianth regular, wholly petal-like. 



^XVII. PONTEDERACE*. Perianth usuaUy irregular, wholly petal-like. Aquatic plants. 

 CXyill. CoMMELTNACE^ Penanth slightly ii-regular, the inner segments very ddicate, 

 *^« °"'?.'' ""« herbaceous. Ovary 3- or 2-celled. Embryo on the edge of the albumen. 



■S ?i Xtridace^. Perianth irregular^ the outer of 1 broad petal-like segment, with or 

 without 2 lateral ones, mner petal-like. Ovary I-celled, with 3 parietal placentas 



CXX. Juncaoe*. Perianth regular, wholly stiff or calyx-like. Flowers hermaphrodite 



