MONOCOTYLEDONS 



277 



large pith, which is filled with starch; and sometimes, it 

 is said, as much as 700 pounds of pith are obtained from 

 a single tree. This starch reaches Europe and America in 

 the form of sago. 



The list of palms and of their uses is a very long one; 

 but the illustrations given will show that the family con- 

 sists of forms used for the greatest variety of purposes by 

 millions of people. 



159. Lilies. In the structure of its flowers the Lily 

 Family (Liliacece) may be regarded as the typical family 

 of Monocotyledons. With three as the definite flower 

 number, with a 

 brightly colored 

 and often con- 

 spicuous corolla 

 or perianth, and 

 with the ovary 

 superior ( 138), 

 there is no rea- 

 son why most of 

 the members of 

 the family should 

 not be recognized 

 easily (Fig. 274). 

 Nearly all of 

 them are terres- 

 trial herbs ; and 

 they are notably 

 forms with bulbs, rootstocks, etc., which enable them to 

 put up rapidly at the coming of a favorable season. The 

 family is better known for its beauty than for its usefulness. 

 Among the well-known wild and cultivated forms are tril- 

 liums, lily-of-the-valley , numerous true lilies, tulips, dog-tooth 

 violet (Fig. 219), star of Bethlehem, and hyacinth; while 

 asparagus and onion are the most common useful forms. 



FIG. 274. The white or Ma- 

 donna lily : A , flower- 

 cluster ; B, flower. Af- 

 ter BAILLON. 



