328 THE CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS 



Class II. Monocotyledons. — The embryo of these plants has 

 only a single cotyledon, and the floral-leaves are in threes or 

 fours, never in fives. A cross-section of the stem shows a 

 number of isolated vascular bundles, not in a single ring but 

 usually scattered and without any distinct central pith : no 

 cambium is present in the stems. The leaves are usually 

 parallel-veined. 



(i) Perianth absent or represented by small scales or bristles. 



Order. Graminece (see p. 473). 



Order. Cyperacece. — Flowers unisexual or bisexual, arranged 

 in spikelets, each flower in the axil of a small bract (glume). 

 Perianth none or consisting of three to six bristles; stamens 

 generally three ; gynscium syncarpous, with a one-celled ovary 

 and a single style, with two or three simple filamentous stigmas ; 

 ovule one, erect. The fruit is a three-sided or flattened nut 

 containing a single endospermous seed which is generally free 

 from the pericarp. The plants of this Order are often confused 

 with grasses, but have mostly solid triangular stems and entire 

 leaf-sheaths. 



Common examples are the Bulrush {Scirpus), Cotton-grass 

 (Eriophorum), and StAgt {Carex). 



(2) Perianth present and regular. 



(a) Gynaecium superior. 



Order. Liliacea. — Flowers with a six-partite coloured perianth : 

 androecium of six stamens. 



Common plants belonging to the Order are Lily-of-the-valley 

 {Convallaria majalis L.), Ramsons {Allium ursinum L.), and 

 other species of 'Garhc' {Allium), Hyacinth, Tulip and-Meadow 

 Saffron {Cokhicum auiumnale L.). 



Order. Juncacece. — Flowers small with a six-partite green or 

 brown perianth, androecium usually of six stamens. Fruit, a one- 

 or three- celled capsule. 



Common examples of the Order are various species of Rush 

 (Juncus) and Wood-rush {Luzula) (see p. 609). 



