258 



cause of its being polyandrous. The latter deviation from the ordinary cha- 

 racter of the order will probably be considered of less importance, if we bear in 

 mind the polyandrous structure of some Haemodoraceae, and especially if, in 

 the first place, the genuine Amaryllideous genera Phycella and Placea be 

 attended to, the former of which has a tendency to produce additional stamens, 

 and the latter having them in a highly developed petaloid state; and if, se- 

 condly, the corona of Narcissus itself is borne in mind, which is in fact an or- 

 gan representing an extra number of stamens. I have elsewhere remarked 

 (Bot. Reg. 1341.) that this is connected with a strong tendency in the whole 

 order to form another set of staminiferous organs between the perianthium and 

 those stamens that actually develope. Hence a curious instance is exhibited, 

 to which several parallels may, however, be found in other families, of the 

 force of developement being generally confined to a series of organs originating 

 within those which should be formed according to the ordinary laws of struc- 

 ture. Of course, in all such orders a multiplication of the usual number of sta- 

 mens is more to be expected than where this peculiar circumstance does notexist. 



Geography. A very few only are found in the north of Europe and the 

 same parallel ; these are plants of the genera Narcissus and Galanthus. As 

 we proceed south they increase. Pancratium appears on the shores of the 

 Mediterranean ; Crinums and Pancratiums abound in the West and East 

 Indies ; Haemanthus is found for the first time with some of the latter on the 

 Gold Coast ; Amaryllides show themselves in countless numbeis in Brazil, and 

 across the whole continent of South America ; and finally, at the Cape of 

 Good Hope, the maximum of the order is beheld in all the beauty of Hceman- 

 thus, Crinum, Clivia, Cyrtanthus, and Brunsvigia. A few are found in New 

 Holland, the most remarkable of which is Doryanthes. 



Properties. One of the few monocotyledonous orders in which any poi- 

 sonous properties are found. These are principally apparent in the viscid 

 juice of the bulbs of Haemanthus toxicarius, in which the Hottentots are said 

 to dip their arrow-heads, and in some neighbouring species. The bulbs of Nar- 

 cissus poeticus have for ages been known as emetic : and it has recently been 

 shown by M. Loiseleur Deslongchamps that a similar power exists in Narcis- 

 sus Tazetta, odorus, and Pseudo-Narcissus, and Pancratium maritimum. The 

 flowers of Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus are also said to be emetic. Decandolle 

 considers the principle found in Amaryllideae analogous to that of the Squill 

 (Essai, p. 290). Sternbergia lutea is purgative, Alstromeria salsilla diapho- 

 retic and diuretic, Amaryllis ornata astringent. Agardh Jlph. 178. 



Examples. Amaryllis, Phycella, Nerine, Vallota, Calostemma. 



CCXXXIX. IFJDE^E. The Cornflag Tribe. 



Irides, Juss. Gen. 57. (1789).— Ensat*, Ker in Ann. of Botany, 1. 219. (1805).— Irideje, R. 

 Brown Prodr. 302. (1810) ; Ker, Gen. lrid. (1827) ; Dec. and Duby, 451. (1828); Lindl. 

 Synops. 254. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Hexapetaloideous triandrous monocotyledons, with an inferior 

 ovarium, anthers turned outwards, and equitant leaves. 

 Anomalies. Crocus leaves are not equitant. 



Essential Character.— Calyx and corolla superior, confounded, their divisions either 

 partially cohering, or entirely separate, sometimes irregular, the 3 petals being sometimes very 

 short. Stamens 3, arising from the base of the sepals ; filaments distinct or connate ; anthers 

 bursting externally lengthwise fixed by their base, 2-celled. Ovarium 3-celled, cells many- 



