MONOCOTYLBDONE S 



205 



racter. — Herbs, with flattened, narrow, usually sheathing 

 leaves. Perianth inferior, more or less irregular, in six parts 

 ai-ranged in two whorls ; the outer parts being green, persistent, 

 and opposite to the carpels ; the inner petaloid. Stamens 3 or 6, 

 some generally abortive, hypogynous ; anthers 2-celled, introrse. 

 Ovary 3-celled, superior ; style 1. Capsule 2 — 3-celled, 2 — 3- 

 valved, with loculicidal dehiscence and axUe placentation. 

 Seeds few, with a linear hUum ; embryo shaped like a pulley, 

 remote from the hilum, in dense fleshy albumen. 



Distribution and Numbers. — They are chiefly natives of 

 India, Africa, Australia, and the West Indies. Illustrative 

 Genera : — Commelyna, Dill, ; Tradescantia, Linn. There are 

 above 260 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Their properties are unimportant. 



Fia. 962. 



Fig. 963. 



Fig. 962. Flower of a species of Wood-rush (Luzula), having an inferior 

 perianth with six divisions, 6 stamens, and a superior ovary with 1 stj'le 

 and 3 stigmas. Fig. 963. Vertical section of the seed of the same. 



The rhizomes of some species, as those of Commelyna tuberosa, 

 0. angustifolia, and C. striata, contain much starch, and when 

 cooked are edible. Others have been reputed astringent and 

 vulnerary, and some emmenagogue, &o. 



Series 4. — Calycince. 

 Order 24. JdncacEjB, the Eush Order. — Character. — 

 Sedge- or grass-like herbs, rhizomatous or with tufted or fibrous 

 roots. Leaves with parallel veins, fistular or more or less 

 flattened and grooved. Flowers regular. Perianth inferior, 6- 

 partite, scale-like or coriaceous, greenish or brown, persistent. 

 Stamens 6, or rarely 3, perigynous ; anthers introrse, 2-ceUed. 

 Ovary superior, 1 — 3-celled; style 1, stigmas 3 or 1. Fruit a 

 loculicidal capsule, 3-celled, 3-valved, and with 1 or many seeds 



