3IO 



Science of Plant Life 



and brushes. Kafir corn and milo are other relatives of the 

 sorghum that have become important forage crops in parts 



of our country that are too dry 

 for the successful production of 

 corn. 



But the most important of all 

 the grasses are the grains : wheat, 

 rye, barley, oats, rice, millet, and 

 corn. Most of the world's food is 

 derived from these plants ; and, 

 depending upon the yield of these 

 several crops, human beings are 

 well suppUed with food or famine 

 prevails. All other foods are of 

 secondary importance to the 

 grains. 



The lily family. This is one of 

 the important famiHes of the 

 monocots because of the large 

 number of species, their wide 

 distribution, and the beautiful 

 flowers that are borne by many 

 of them. The flowers usually 

 have six colored parts forming 

 the floral envelope. There are 

 Fig. 183. The wood lily. Many gj^ stamens, and the pistil is made 



members of the Uly family are cul- i- • • 



tivated for their flowers. Up 01 three dlVlSlOUS. The Omon 



and asparagus are members of the 

 lily family that are used for food. The Mexican century 

 plants and the New Zealand flax are fiber-producing plants 

 that belong to this group. Many of the bulbous forms like 



