v 



94 MR. J. G. BAKER ON HYPOXIDACE^;. 



distinct prominences, one at the funiculus and the other at the 

 foramen. On the other side their alliance is closest with the 

 Vellosiese, which differ by their shrubby habit, the entire absence 

 of a tuberous root-stock, by their abundant glandulosity, flowers 

 never yellow and hairy, and by their seeds with a coriaceous testa 

 and embryo placed in a different position in the albumen. If, 

 following the plan proposed by Mr. Bentham (' Flora Australien- 

 sis,' vi. 416, and Journ. Linn. Soc. xv. 491), we treat Amarylli- 

 dacese as one large comprehensive Order, including Hypoxidaceae, 

 Haemadoracese, and Velloziese, in addition to Amaryllidaceaa as 

 usually understood, this will give us an Order of not less than 

 800 species, marked in the series with an inferior ovary, as Lilia- 

 cese is marked in the series with a superior ovary, by its regular 

 or nearly regular petaloid perianth, 6 stamens, trilocular ovary 

 with axile placentation, and seeds furnished with copious albu- 

 men. Liliacese, then, with 1800 species, will include substantially 

 all the great body of the petaloid Monocotyledons with regular 

 or slightly irregular flowers, albuminous seeds, and a superior 

 ovary ; Amaryllidaceae and Iridacese, with 1500 species, all those 

 with an inferior ovary. Under Amaryllidaceae, as thus consti- 

 tuted, we shall have to define at least eight tribes. The old Ama- 

 ryllidaceae will claim three, well defined and clearly limited, the 

 acaulescent bulbs which form the central mass of the old Order ; 

 and, in addition to these, Alstrcemerieae and Agaveae. Hypoxideae 

 will be a fourth well-marked tribe, and Vellosieae a fifth. Under 

 Haemadoraceae we shall require to admit at least three tribes, 

 unless, as perhaps will be found best, we take out altogether from 

 the Order Wachendorfla, Barlaretta, and Xipliidium, and relegate 

 them to Liliaceae. By their leaves, often equitant and laterally 

 compressed, and stamens, often reduced to three, Hsemadoraceae 

 give us links of transition between Amaryllidaceae and Iridaceae. 

 However, I do not propose upon the present occasion to enter 

 into detail upon the question of the general classification of this 

 Order, but simply to lay stress upon what concerns Hypoxidaceae, 

 that all its members have a close affinity with one another, that 

 it forms undoubtedly not more than a single well-marked tribe 

 ^ut of seven or eight of an Order thus constituted, and that, 



exl e Pt * a *^ e case °f the monotypic Cape genus Pauridia, in 

 whicl** 16 stamens are reduced to three, it shows no appreciable 



variation from tlle typical character of the Order as just indi- 

 cated— the P er ianth being always quite regular, with six segments, 





