THE ]MOXOCOTYLEDOXES 



2021 



Among the best-known examples of the family we may mention the 

 following plants found wild in Britain: Snowdrop {Galanthus nivalis), 

 Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum), and the Daffodil {Narcissus pseudonarcissus). 

 Among garden plants, species of Amaryllis, Crinum, Agapanthus and 

 Hippeastrum are grown especially in herbaceous borders. Species of 

 Allium (Onion) are used as vegetables. 



The plants are herbs and usually have a tunicated bulb. The leaves are 

 few in number and generally arise from the bulb. They are more or less 

 linear and have parallel venation with transverse secondarv veins. 



The flowers (Fig. 1958) may be solitary or borne in umbellate inflores- 

 cences at the top of a scape. Each flower is hermaphrodite and actino- 



FiG. 1958. — Floral diagram of 

 Amaryllidaceae. 



morphic and is subtended by an involucre of two, or more rarely one, 

 membranous bracts. 



The perianth (Fig. 1959) is petaloid and composed of six parts, 



Fig. 1959. — Narcissus pseudonarcissus. Daffodil. Flower in longitudinal 

 section, showing perianth segments and elongated corona. 



