10 



State, to the knowledge of the writer, but is successfully grown in 



neighboring states, and should be used as an ornamental tree in this 

 State. It is a very beautiful tree. The leave- resemble those of the 

 maiden hair fern. They are not evergreen but turn yellow and drop 

 in late autumn, in this respect resembling the Bald Cypress. The 



nut contained in the fruit is edible when roasted. 



CLASS II. ANGIOSPERMAE. 



ENCLOSED SEEDS. 



The class. Angiospermae, includes all the flowering plants except 

 the pines and their allies. The plants of this class are of more recent 

 origin than those of the Gymnospermae. The ovules, or seeds, are 

 borne in a closed cavity, the ovary. The ripened ovary and its ad- 

 herent parts constitute the fruit. 



This class is divided into two sub-classes, viz.. Monocotyledons and 

 Dicotyledons. The former division includes those plants in which the 

 embryo contains a single cotyledon, or seed-leaf, the first leaves be- 

 ing alternate, the leaves are parallel veined, the parts of the flowers 

 are in 3s, the stem shows no distinct divisions into wood, pith, and 

 bark ; and the wire-like fibers of woody tissue (fibro-vascular 

 bundles) are promiscuously distributed through the stem. The corn 

 stalk is an illustration of this kind of stem. Among trees the Pal- 

 metto of the Southern states is a representative of this class. The 

 Dicotyledons are plants in which the embryo contains two cotyledons. 

 The leaves are mostl) netted veined, the flowers arc usually 4 or 5 

 parted and the stem is divided into bark, wood, and pith. This sub- 

 class includes the greater part of the flowering plants, including all 

 the trees of the northern temperate region except the Gymnospermae. 



MAGNOLIA FAMILY. MAGNOLIACAE. 



Magnolia was the name given to this family of plants by Linnaeus in honor 

 of Pierre Magnol, an eminent botanist of the 17th century. 



To the knowledge of the writer, the Magnolias have not been 

 found native to this State, but since several species occur in Arkan- 

 sas and Texas, in the lowlands and adjacent hill sides near the Okla- 

 homa border, some varieties may be found native in the swamps and 

 wet soils of the southeast corner of the State. Several varieties are 



