496 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE NATURAL ORDERS. 



throat of the perianth, or six, and unequal in situation. Ovules 

 anatropous, numerous ; but the fruit often one-celled and one-seeded. 

 — Ex. Pontederia (Pickerel-wepd), Heteranthera, &c. 



955. Ord. Commelynacea! {Spiderwort Family), with usually sheath- 

 ing leaves ; distinguished from other Endogens (except Alismaceje 

 and Trillium) by the manifest distinction between the calyx and 

 corolla ; the former of three herbaceous sepals ; the latter of as 

 many delicate colored petals. Stamens six, or fewer : anthers with 

 two separated cells : filaments often clothed with jointed hairs, 

 hypogynous. Ovary two- or three-celled: styles united into one. 

 Capsule few-seeded, loculicidal. Seeds brthotropous. Embryo 

 small, pulley-shaped, partly sunk in the apex of the albumen. — 

 Ex. Commelyna, Tradescantia (Spiderwort) Mucilaginous plants. 



956. Ord. XyridaceSB. Low, rush-like plants ; with ensiform, grassy 

 or filiform radical leaves, sheathing the base of a simple scape, 

 which bears a head of flowers at the apex, imbricated with bracts. 

 Calyx of three glumaceous sepals, caducous. Petals three, with 

 claws, more or less united into a monopetalous tube. Stamens six, 

 inserted on the corolla ; three of them bearing extrorse anthers, 

 the others mere sterile filaments. Ovary one-celled, with three 

 parietal placentoe, or three-celled : styles partly united : stigmas 

 lobed. Capsule many-seeded. Seeds orthotropous, albuminous. — 

 Ex. Xyris (Yellow-eyed Grass). 



957. Ori. Eriocaulonaces {Pipewort Family). Aquatic or marsh 

 herbs, with much the structure of the preceding ; their leaves cel- 

 lular or fleshy ; their minute flowers (monoecious or dioecious) 

 crowded, along with scales or hairs, into a very compact head : the 

 corolla less petaloid than in Xyridaceoe ; the six stamens often all 

 perfect ; the ovules and seeds solitary in each cell. — Ex. Eriocaulon. 



958. Ord. Restiaces consists of South African and Australian 

 Rush-like plants, with the aspect of Cyperacese, but with one-celled 

 anthers and orthotropous seeds. 



959. Ord. Cypcraccffi {Sedge Family). Stems {culms) usually 

 solid, caaspitose. Sheaths of the leaves closed. Flowers one in the 

 axil of each glumaceous bract. Perianth none, or a few bristles. 

 Stamens mostly three, hypogynous. Styles two or three, more or 

 less united. Fruit an achenium. Embryo small, at the extremity 

 of the seed next the hilum. — Ex. Cyperus, Scirpus, Carex (Sedges). 

 Tlie herbage is little eaten by cattle. Some Clubrushes are used 

 for making mats, chair-bottoms, &c. The papyrus of the Egyptians 



