388 VARIOUS PLANT GROUP.S 



The grain-like fruit of typical grasses resembles an achene 

 in being the product of a simple pistil with one ovule and in 

 being dry and indehiscent. It differs mainh^ in having the 

 seed-coat adherent to the pericarp. A fruit of this kind is 

 distinguished as a caryopsis.^ 



As shown in Fig. 9 the embrj'o is placed at one side of 

 the albumen. On the side toward the seed-food is a some- 

 what shield-sliaped organ, termed the sadellum,- through 

 which the germ absorbs its nutriment when sprouting. Mor- 

 phologically the scutellum is regarded by most botanists as 

 the cotjdedon of the embryo, enlarged and otherwise modified 

 for its peculiar function. Unlike the embryo of dicotyledon- 

 ous plants, the embrj'o of a grass, as of all the sub-class of 

 seed-plants now to be studied, has but one cotyledon and is 

 hence described as monocotyledonous.-' 



Grasses may he easily recognized as mostly herbs with 

 hollow, cylindrical stems; parallel-veined, two-ranked sheathing 

 leaves; flowers enclosed by glumaceous bracts; and fruit a cary op- 

 sis. 



144. The grass order (Graminales or Glumifior£e) com- 

 prises grasK-likc plants loith glumaceous bracts, a one-celled 

 superior ovary, and a solitary ovule. 



The formula of Graminales is given on jjages 422, 423. 



145. The palm family (Palmaceae). Examples: coconut 

 (Figs. 34-3G, pages 46, 47), date (Figs. 108, 109, pages 100, 

 101), sago palms (Figs. IIG I-III, pages 109, 110), rat- 

 tans (Figs. 223 I, II, pages 237, 238), and vegetable ivory 

 (Figs. 266 I, II, pages 275, 276). 



The formulas of Pha'iiix, Cooos, Calamus, Metroxylon, Phj'tole- 

 ])haf5, and Palmacca> on pages 422, 423. 



Although in our examples the leaves are all pinnate and 

 compound, manj' members of the family have simple palmate 

 leaves, as for instance those from which the familiar palm- 

 leaf fans are made. 



' Car"y-oi)'Kis < Gr. karyon, nut; op.si.s, resemblance. Its mor- 

 j)holoKy is iii<licatcil in a formula by \VEi < (l/N. 

 2 Scu-tel'lum < L. a little shield. 

 ' Mo"no-cot"y-lod'on-ous < Gr. monos, one. 



