SMILACE^. MELAXTIIACE.E. 127 



CouDTLixE, Commeraon. 



Characters of Draeana, but the ovary cells with several ovules. 



*C. TEKMiXAi.is, Kth., U.S. Var. n CTiltivated round Monasteries. 



Glabrous. Loaves 1 to 3 feet loniJ on a 2 to 4 inch Ions;; stcm-cbis])ing petiole. 

 Chartaceous grecu or purplish, i'lowers small, solitary, white or purplish. 



var. a. terminalis. Flowers larger, sessile. 

 var. fi.fe)-)-en, Baker. Flowers on pedicels. 



Order SMILACE.E. 



Flowers usuall}' hermaphrodite. Perianth inferior, petaloid, mostly sex-merous, 

 biseriate, isostomonous. iitai/iens hypogynous or jjcrigynous. Anthers introrse. 

 Ovary superior, 3-celled, rarely I, 2 or 4-cellod. Berry few-seeded. Seeds globose. 

 Testa membranous. Albumen very dense. Herbs or undershrnbs, sometimes with 

 tendrils or thorns. Leaves all radicle or cauline, alternate or whorled. 



This Order is unimportant in Burma. The roots of several American species 

 of Sinilax constitute the Sarsaparilla of commerce, and a similar article is also 

 procurable from several Asiatic species. 



SMiL.ix, Linneeus. 



Flower dioecious. Perianth of 6 spreading segments, all equal, or the 3 outer 

 larger, or the 3 outer united, and the 3 inner wanting. 3Iale Flowers. Stamens G, 

 inserted at the base of the segments, or rarely 3, free or monadelphous. Female 

 Flowers. Stamens rudimeutaiy. Ovary 3 celled, with 1 or 2 erect ovules in each 

 cell. Stigmas 3, sessile, distinct or shortly united. Fruit a globular berry. Eiahryo 

 minute, remote from the hilum. Climbers. 



S. GLABRA, Roxb. Kluisi Hills. S. China. 



S. LANXE.TSFOLiA, Roxb. Kluisi IliUs. S. Cliiua. 



S. FEROX, Wall. Khasi Hills. S. China. 



S. ov.vLiFOLiA, Roxb. Burma (il.). Ceylon. India. S. China. 



S. maerophylla and prolifera, Roxb. 

 S. roLYACAjJinA, Roxb. Kamorta (K.). 



Order MELAIsTHACE^E. 



Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth sub-herbaceous or petaloid, s(^x-raerous, biseri- 

 ate. Stamens usually 6, inserted at the base of the perianth. Anthers extrorse in 

 bud. Ovary superior or rarely semi-inferior; of 3 many-ovuled cells. Styles 3. 

 Seeds albuminous. Emhryo small, included. 



METHOyiCIEJE. 

 Perianth tubular or 6-j)artife. Stamens inserted at the base of the perianth- 

 segments, or on its tube. Ovules anatropous. Stigmas 3. Fruit eapsulur. Seeds 

 turgid. Testa thick or fleshy , white or red. Embryo straight, 



Methoxica. 

 M. suPERBA, Lam. (51.). 

 Hsi-mi-touk. 

 The Hpungyis collect the roots of this for medicine (Tv.). 



VKRATUIE.'E. 

 Stem or scape leafy. Flowers a.rillary or solitary, or in splices or racemes. Styles 

 short, usually distinct. Perianth hares free, sessile, or very shortly clawed, sometimes 

 basally united. Ovary free or semi-inferior. 



AXGUILLARIA. 



A. IXDICA, Brown (il.). Burma. 



