86 BOTANY. 
with parallel-veined leaves, sometimes spiny. Chiefly found in Europe, Asia, © 
and North America. ‘The plants of this order are not remarkable for their 
properties. Some are mucilaginous and astringent. Vallisneria spiralis is a 
dicecious plant, the male flowers of which, at the time of flowering, are said to 
be detached from the mud of the water in which they grow, and to float on the 
surface. At the same time the female flower developes a long, spiral peduncle, 
by means of which it reaches the surface of the water, so as to allow the apphi- 
cation of the pollen. The canvas-back duck (Aythya vallisneria) derives its 
specific name from feeding on this plant, known in the Chesapeake Bay as the. 
celery grass. 
This order has been divided into two sections: Stratiotee, with a many- 
celled ovary, and Vallisneriee, ovary one-celled. Examples: Limnobium, : 
Udora, Vallisneria. tbs 
Sub-Class 3. Dictyogene. 
Leaves reticulated, often articulated with the stem, branches having the: 
usual structure of Endogens, rhizomes or underground stems having the woody 
matter disposed in a compact circle, or in-wedges containing central cellular 
tissue, and often showing medullary processes. 
Orver 387. Trintiace#, the Trillium Family. Flowers usually bisexual. 
Perianth in six, sometimes eight divisions, colored or herbaceous. Stamens 
six, eight, or ten; filaments subulate ; anthers linear, with a prolonged 
connective. Ovary free, three-, four-, or five-celled; styles as many, 
distinct; ovules 00, anatropal. Fruit succulent, three-, four-, or five-celled. 
Seeds 00; embryo minute, in fleshy albumen. Natives of the temperate 
parts of Europe, Asia, and America. Some of them are more or less acrid, 
others are narcotic. The rhizome of Trillium cernuum is used as an 
emetic. Paris quadrifolia, Herb Paris, is narcotic. There are about ten 
known genera, and upwards of sixty species. Examples: Trillium, Paris, 
Medeola. 
OrpveR 38. Smitace#, the Greenbrier Family. Flowers bisexual or 
polygamous. [erianth petaloid, six-parted. Stamens six, inserted into the 
base of the perianth, rarely hypogynous. Ovary free, three-celled; cells 
uni- or multi-ovulate ; ovules orthotropal; styles usually three-cleft ; stigmas 
three. Fruit globular and succulent. Seeds with fleshy, cartilaginous 
albumen; embryo very small; usually distant from the hilum. Herbs or 
undershrubs, often climbing, with netted-veimed leaves. Natives of the 
temperate and tropical regions of Asia and America. There are four or 
five known genera, and upwards of 120 species. Examples: Smilax, 
Philesia. 
The Sarsaparilla of commerce is derived from the roots of various species 
of Smilax, the best article being furnished by S. officinalis, a native of. 
Columbia ; a poor substitute is found in the S! pseudo-china of the United 
States. The so-called wild sarsaparilla of the United states belongs to the 
genus Aralia. The tangled thickets of Greenbriers, so common in this coun- 
try, ‘are constituted by various species of Smilax. 
86 
