THE MONOCOTYLEDONES 2027 



None of these genera are of great importance though species of several 

 are grown as ornamental flowers. Zephyranthes Candida (Peruvian Swamp 

 Lily) is cultivated in the warmer parts of the country on account of its white 

 flowers which resemble a Crocus. Sternbergia lutea is supposed to be the 

 " lilies of the field " referred to in the New Testament. 



8. Haemantheae. Rootstock generally a bulb. Inflorescence an umbel 



of numerous small or medium-sized flowers, rarely a cluster of 

 few flowers. Flowers actinomorphic, or medianly zygomorphic. 

 Perianth tube short or absent. Ovary trilocular, with one to 

 six ovules in each loculus. Stamens alternately long and short. 

 Buphane and Haemanthiis. 



In the genus Haemanthus there are about seventy species some of which 

 are in cultivation under the name of Cape Tulips. 



9. Eucharideae. Rootstock a small bulb. Inflorescence an umbel. 



Flowers actinomorphic or medianly zygomorphic. Stamens fur- 

 nished at the base with stipules which are united to those of 

 neighbouring stamens to form a strongly developed corona from 

 whose margin the stamens appear to arise. Ovary trilocular with 

 few ovules in each loculus of which some may abort. Capsule 

 often fleshy. Pancratium, Stenomesson and Eucharis. 

 The genus Pancratium contains twelve species which are found in the 

 Mediterranean region and in tropical Asia. P. canariense (Mediterranean 

 Lily) bears white sweet-scented flowers. The plants are not hardy in this 

 country and are propagated by small bulbs. Stenomesson has twenty species 

 found in tropical America, while Eucharis, with six species in tropical 

 South America, is sometimes cultivated in greenhouses. 



ID. Hippeastreae. Rootstock usually a large bulb. Inflorescence a 

 cluster of many flowers, rarely a solitary flower. Involucre of 

 two free bracts. Flowers actinomorphic or zygomorphic. Corona 

 often reduced to a number of teeth alternating with the stamens, 

 but occasionally forming a complete structure. Hippeastrum and 

 Vagaria. 



Hippeastrum (Fig. 1966) is a large genus with about seventy-five species 

 found in tropical and subtropical America. They produce large, stifle, red 

 flowers and many hybrids are grown in greenhouses in this country. 

 Vagaria has one species in Syria. 



II. Narcisseae. Rootstock usually a bulb bearing linear leaves and 

 solitary or clusters of flowers. Flowers actinomorphic or slightly 

 zygomorphic. Corona more or less developed, arising from the 

 rim of the perianth tube. Stamens alternating long and short and 

 inserted on the perianth tube. Involucre with one bract. 



The genus Narcissus with about forty species is found in Europe, Asia 

 and the Mediterranean region. Several species are cultivated in gardens, 

 A^. pseudonarcissus (Daffodil), N. jonqiiilla (Jonquil), A^. poeticus (Fig. 1967) 



