MONOEPIGYNER. 257 
ixampLes.—Black Bryony (Tamus communis), the Yam 
neo o2). 
-Economtcat Properties.—The roots of the Yams are 
eshy and mucilaginous, and much used as food in tropical 
ountries. They also contain a little saccharine matter. 
he White Dry Yam (Dioscorea alata) is by far the best, 
nd is indigenous in the Indian islands; the Purple Yam” 
D. purpurea) is much esteemed ; in taste the Yams much — 
mble potatoes.— Ainslie, vol. i. 329. Tamus communis — 
bntains a considerable quantity of fecula, which may be 
turned to good account by washing and roasting the root, te 
Temove the acrid matter which it contains. : 
ORDER XXIV. 
NARCISSEE. eS 
Part of the Narcissi, Juss.—Amaryllidee of Mr. Brown. ° 
Cuaracrers.— Herbaceous plants with bulbous roots, ra~ 
cal leaves, sheathing and ensiform; flowers solitary or 
umbellate on a scape, and enclosed in a spatha; perianth 
6-partite, the divisions overlapping ; orifice of the perianth 
metimes having a petaloid nectary of a cylindrical form 5 
stamens 6, anthers bursting inwardly ; ovary inferior, 3-cell-_ ce 
ed, many seeded s style simple; stigma 3-lobed ; pericarp a ee 
3-celled, 3-valved capsule, with a Joculicidal dehiscence, 
*ometimes a berry with a few seeds: 
Exampues.—Daffodill (Narcissus), Amaryllis, Ss ow dr 
Galanthus), Snowflake ( Leucojum), Hemanthus. 
; This family may be distinguished from the cies bythe 
‘ —— sak Troe the se 
