MONOCOTYLEDONS . 
631 
Order 2. PolyearpsB. Flowers pentacyclic or hexacyclic (2, 3); whorls in (i) 
dimerous and decussate, with four monocarpellary ovaries placed diagonally ; in 
(2, 3) trimerous, or with a larger number of stamens and carpels (see p. 626) ; the 
gynaeceum consists of three or more monocarpellary ovaries, which are one- or 
more-seeded ; endosperm absent. Perennial floating water- or upright bog-plants, 
with large lattice- veined or long narrow (2) leaves. 
Families: i. Potamogetoneae. 
2. Juncagineae. 
3. Alismaceae. 
Order 3. Hydroeharid.ea3. Flowers dioecious or polygamous, with trimerous 
whorls, and perianth consisting of both calyx and corolla ; male flowers of from one 
to four whorls of fertile stamens and within these several whorls of staminodes ; 
female flowers with an inferior tripartite or six-chambered (3) many-seeded ovary; 
endosperm absent. Perennial submerged or floating water-plants with spiral or 
verticillate (r) leaves. 
Family i. Hydrocharideae ; with the subsections — 
1. Hydrilleae. 
2. Vallisnerieae. 
3. Stratioteae. 
SERIES II.— MlCRANTH^. 
Land- or bog-plants; the individual flowers usually very small and inconspicuous, 
but collected in large numbers in the inflorescence, and almost always referable to the 
dimerous or trimerous pentacyclic type. 
Order 4. SpadicifiorGB. Inflorescence a spadix or panicle with thick branches 
(4), generally enveloped in a large sometimes petaloid (i) spathe ; bracts small or 
altogether absent ; perianth never petaloid, usually inconspicuous or altogether 
abortive (1-3) ; sexual organs generally diclinous by abortion ; fruit always superior 
and often very large (2, 4) ; the seed mostly large or of an immense size and with 
a very large endosperm ; embryo small, straight* Mostly large strong plants with 
the stem strongly developed, chiefly above ground, and a great number of large 
foliage-leaves; in (i, 3, 4) they have a broad branched or apparently pinnate or 
compound lamina, a leaf-stalk and sheath, in (2) they are sessile, very long and 
narrow. 
Families: i. Aroideae. 
2. Pandanaceae. 
3. Cyclantheae. 
4. Palmaceae. 
Order 5. Glumiflorss. Inflorescence spicate or panicled, without a spathe ; 
flowers very small and inconspicuous, usually concealed among thickly-placed dry 
hypsophyllary leaves (glumes or pales) (2, 3); perianth absent, or replaced by hair- 
hke structures or scales ; fruit superior, small, one-seeded, dry and indehiscent 
(a caryopsis) ; embryo in (i) long and in the axis of the endosperm, in (2) by its 
side and very small, in (3) also by the side of the endosperm, but considerably 
developed and provided with a scutellum. Plants with persistent underground 
elongated rhizomes, and upright foliage-leaves in two or three (2) rows ; (i) should 
perhaps rather be included in the fourth order. 
Families: i. Typhaceae. 
2. Cyperaceae. 
3. Gramineae. 
