THE MOXOCOTYLEDOXES 



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Ixiolirieae and Eustephieae. The first tribe is represented by one genus 

 Ixiolirion (Fig. 1968) with only two species: the second contains a number 

 of genera found mostly in the Andes. 



Fig. 1968. — Ixiolirion pallasii. 

 Flowering shoot. 



IRIDALES 



The Iridales are monocotyledonous herbs growing from rhizomes or 

 corms, but rarely producing bulbs. The flowers are borne in racemose or 

 cymose inflorescences but never in the form of an umbel. The flow^ers 

 themselves are usually actinomorphic with a tendency towards a zygo- 

 morphic condition. The ovary is always inferior and the stamens are 

 reduced to three. The stylar arms are sometimes petaloid and usually 

 divided. The fruit is a capsule and the seed has abundant endosperm. 



The order contains the single family Iridaceae. It has probably been 

 derived from the Liliales or may have come from a stock which gave rise to 

 the Iridaceae and the Liliaceae as two divergent lines. The plants are 

 widely distributed, but their centres of distribution are probably South 

 Africa and South America. 



Iridaceae 



The family is well known in cultivation in Britain though it is repre- 

 sented in the British Flora only by a few species. The Yellow Flag {Iris 

 pseudacorus), Gladdons {Iris foetidissima). Autumn Crocus {Crocus nudi- 



