758 



THE SUBDIVISIONS OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



Alliance XLIII. — Viridiflorae. 



Families: LeitneriacecB, Cannahinacece, Dorsteniacece, Artocarpacece, Ficacew, 

 ConocephalacecB, Moracece, UlmacecB 



Annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, and trees. The laminse of the foliage-leaves 

 veined with pinnate or radiating bundles. Flowers in glomerate, fasciculate, or 

 spicate cymes ; actinomorphic, hermaphrodite, pseudo-hermaphrodite, monoecious, and 

 dioecious. Perianth composed of 2-8 inconspicuous greenish segments. Gynseceum 

 superior, 1-2 carpellary and unilocular. Ovule solitary, pendulous. Stamens as many 

 or double as many as the perianth-segments; all or those of the outer whorl are 



Fig. 428.—" Living bndge ' formed of the aerial roots of the India rubber and other kinds of Figs in Sikkim Himalaya 



(After Hooker.) 



inserted opposite the segments of the perianth. The pollen in dusty. The fruit is 

 a one-seeded achene or a drupe. The cotyledons of the embryo are not thickened. 



The Ulmacese and Cannabinacese contain watery juices; the plants of the other 

 families produce milky juice in greater or smaller quantity. The milky juice of the 

 Indian Ficus elastica is used in the manufacture of caoutchouc, that of the South 

 American Cow -tree (Galactodendron utile) as an article of diet. The milky juice of 

 the Upas-tree {Antiaris toxicaria), native to Java, contains poisonous substances. 

 In the Hop (Ilumulus Lupulus) and in the Hemp (Cannabis sativa) bitter and 



