1638. In this class we meet with the first true or genuine fruits; because in it for the first time the three anatomical systems are completely separated.
1639. Plants having a ligneous stalk, free and many-ribbed leaves, ramified inflorescence and ternary fleshy fruits, are the Palmaceæ. The Palmaceæ have a woody, very hollow stem, with many-ribbed, divided, and often pinnate leaves; a muscariform inflorescence lodged in spathes, sexanary corollæ with nuts, berries, or drupes. With the palms are associated the Typhaceæ, Aroideæ, Piperales, Pandanales, Dioscoreæ, Smilaceæ, Asparagi, Convallariæ, and Bromeliæ; for their stalks are mostly woody, the leaves broad, and placed upon the stalk, the corollæ stunted, while, on the contrary, the ovarium is carpoidal or fruit-like. The five orders may be disposed as follows:
1640. Order I. Palmaceæ parenchymatosæ. Cynomoridæ, Typhaceæ, Aroideæ.
1641. Order II. P. thecales. Saurureæ, Piperaceæ, Pandanaceæ.
1642. Order III. P. axonales. Dioscoreæ, Smilaceæ, Parideæ.
1643. Order IV. P. florales. Asparagoideæ, Convallariæ, Bromeliæ.
1644. Order V. P. carpales. Palms.
1645. The plants of the first order are very imperfect herbs with spadices. Those of the second have mostly a ligneous, nodose stalk, with one-seeded fruits in spadices, without corollæ. The third have separated corollæ disposed in an open form of inflorescence. The fourth have perfect sexanary corollæ, with a frequently woody stalk and ternary, many-seeded berries. The fifth order consists of trees having large leaves, muscariform spadices, and perfect fruits, nuts, plums, and berries, ternary and one-seeded. They divide into sixteen families. (Vid. Tab. B.)
Third Province.
RETICULAR-LEAVED PLANTS—DICOTYLEDONES.