MONOCOTYLEDONES 325 



ranked, sheathing and parallel-veined; roots fibrous; inflor- 

 escence spiked; flo^wers usually three-androus ; axillary in the 

 glume-like bracts ; no perianth ; ovary one^chambered ; style 

 two-cleft; fruit three-angled. 



A very large and widely distributed family, most of the 

 species of little or no economic importance. Some few are used in 

 manufacturing and some few as ornamentals (Fig. 164). 



Fig. 165. — Lily blossom. A polypetalous flower. 



Beomeliace.t;. — Herbs ; mostly tropical or subtropical and 

 mostly epiphytic ; flowers perfect, usually regular, three-merous, 

 and borne in racemes or panicles ; fruit a three-seeded berry or 

 capsule. This family includes the pineapple (Ananassa sativa) 

 and the southern moss (Tillandsia usneoides) . This may be con- 

 sidered a strictly American family and the well-known pine- 

 apple is its most valuable species and is now cultivated in most 

 tropical countries. 



