The Natural System of Botany. 361 



Cocoa-nut Tree), Chamaerops (The Palmetto), Phoenix (The 

 Date Tree). 



Arace^e. The Arum Tribe. The flowers are on a spathe, 

 generally surrounded with a spadix, and destitute of calyx 

 and corolla. Ex.: Symplocarpus (Skunk-Cabbage), Arum 

 (Indian Turnip), Acorus (Sweet Flag). Some species acrid, 

 others pungent and aromatic. 



Lemnace^:. Ex. : Lemna (Duck-weed). Small floating 

 plants. 



Typhaceje. The Reed-mace Tribe. Ex.: Typha (Cat- 

 tail), Sparganium (Burr-reed). Herbs, growing in ditches 

 and ponds. 



Naiadace^e. The Pond-weed Tribe. Ex.: Zostera (Eel- 

 grass), Potamogeton (Floating Pond-weed). Growing in wa- 

 ter, with obscure flowers and cellular leaves. 



AlismacejE. The Water-Plantain Tribe. Ex. : Sagittaria 

 (Arrow-head), Alisma (Water-plantain). Aquatic herbs, with 

 regular flowers. 



Hydrocharidaceje. The Frog-bit Tribe. Ex.: Vallis- 

 neria (Tape-grass), Udora (Ditch-moss). Small floating plants. 



OrchidacejE. The Orchis Tribe. A large order, embra- 

 cing nearly 1500* species. No order is more interesting or 

 curious, whether for the singular construction of the flowers, 

 or their fragrance and beauty, or for the remarkable shapes 

 of the roots and stems. Many of them are epiphytes, growing 

 upon the roots or trunks of decayed trees. Ex. : Orchis, Are- 

 thusa, Cypripedium (Lady's Slipper), Pogonia, Spiranthes, &c. 



Zinziberaceje. The Ginger Tribe. Ex. : Zinziber (Gin- 

 ger), Amomum (Cardamon). Tropical aromatic herbs. 



Cannaceje. Ex.: Canna (Indian Shot), Maranta (Arrow- 

 root). 



Musace.e. The Banana Tribe. Noble tropical plants, 

 whose fruit and huge leaves are of the greatest importance for 

 food and shelter. Ex. : Musa (The Plantain-tree.) 



Bromeliaceje. The Pine-apple Tribe. Chiefly tropical 

 American plants. The delicious fruit of the Pine-apple is 

 formed by the "consolidation of the imperfect flowers, bracts, 

 and receptacle, into a fleshy, succulent mass." Ex. : Aria- 

 nassa (The Pine-apple), Tillandsia. 



