252 — _MONOPERIGYNE RX. 
ORDER XX. 
ASPARAGINEZ. 
Included in the Asparagi, Juss.—Smilacee, and part of Liliacee 
and Melanthacee of Dr. Lindley. 
ay Cuaracters.— Herbs or under-shrubs, with alternate 
: leaves, sometimes sheathing and reticulated ; flowers herma- 
phrodite, sometimes dicecious ; perianth often coloured and 
petaloid, 6 (occasionally 8) parted, sometimes appearing in & 
regular calyx and corolla (Paris); stamens of the same 
number as, and inserted into the base of, the divisions of 
the perianth ; the three opposite the sepals occasionally ab- 
sent or of a different form; ovary 3-celled (Paris 4-celled), 
cells 1, 2, or many seeded; style simple, with a 3-lobed 
ima, or 3-parted ; pericarp a capsule or roundish berry, 
sometimes 1-celled and 1-seeded from abortion; seed with 
_ a membranous testa, and a fleshy or cartilaginous albumen- 
_ Paris, and one or two others of this family, are placed in 
_ Colchicacee (Melanthacee) by some botanists. Ruscus, 
Asparagus, and Convallaria are in the Liliacee of Dr- 
Lindley 
A wera Ey of the Valey (Convallaria majalis), 
‘Herb Paris a aheie? a er Butcher’s Broom (Ruscus 
‘ of the Chinese, Squine of the French), which is 
propels et as eno on rl This 
