LILIALES 457 



years ago it was but little known to our European ancestors, and even 

 a century and a half ago it was one of tlie luxuries. (Sinimonds.) 



iSorghum vulgare, Chinese Sugar Cane, a native of India, has within a 

 few years been brought into cultivation in the United States for its 

 sweet juice, from which molasses and sugar are made. One variety of 

 this species is the Broom Corn, used in tbe manufacture of biooms. 



Several species of 'Bz.mhoo {Bambusa, sp.) growing in India becomeso 

 large as to supply materials for building the houses of the natives. 



B. arundinacea sometimes attains the height of 30 metres (100 ft.). 

 Its uses are almost innumerable. 



Order Cyperacese. — The Sedge Family. Herbaceous plants, with 

 three-angled solid stems, bearing alternate three-ranked leaves, with 

 entire sheaths. (Figs. 341-4.) 



There are about two thousand species of sedges, which are distrib- 

 uted throughout the world. They grow in tufts, never forming a con- 

 tinuous mat, and generally prefer wet localities. They are of little 

 value to man, and their stems contain so little nutritious matter that 

 they are eaten only to a limited extent by animals. 



Cyperus esculeutus, the Chufa, a native of the Meditelranean region, 

 is somewhat cultivated for its smali, sweet-tasting tubers. 



Cyperus textilis is used in India for making ropes and mats ; in Egypt 

 other species are used for the same purpose. 



I'apyi us antiquorum. Papyrus, is a tall growing plant with stems 2-8 

 cm, (1 inch) in diameter. It is a native of Egypt and the iidjacent 

 countries, and from it the inhabitants anciently made paper by slicing 

 its cellular pith, and afterward hammering and smoothing it. 



553. Cohort H. Eestiales. — Tliis includes three orders of 

 mostly tropical plants bearing glumaceous flowers. 



Orders Restiaceae, EriocaulonacsEe, and Flagellariese. 



554. Cohort m. Commelynales. — Plants -with a hexa- 

 merous perianth, in two whorls, the inner colored and petal- 

 oid. 



Orders Mayacese, Xyridaoese, and Commelynacese. 



The latter contains the well-known Spiderwort Tradescantia, sp.). 



555. Cohort IV. Pontederales. — Marsh plants with a 

 gamophyllous petaloid perianth. 



Orders Philydrese, Pontederiacese, and Rapatese. 



556. Cohort V. Liliales. — Plants with a hexamerous 

 (rarely tetramerous) perianth, the parts united or free, and 

 usually petaloid. 



Orde' Juncacee^. — The Rushes. Natives of temperate and cold 



