TA CCA CE^. B URMA XXI A CEjE. 147 



EuRTCLEs, Salisbury. 

 * E. Ambofn-ensis, Sal. (M.). 

 La-man. Nae-men. 



lIoLINERtA. 



M. (Leucogum) CAPrrrLATA, Lour. Nankowry (K.). 



The tuluTous iliizomos of this family contain a large amount of starch, and 

 many of them consequently can be used as food. The powdered bulb of Iris 

 forenfina is known as Orris root. The seeds of Iris pseudo-acorus can bo substituted 

 for cotfee, and Crocus sativus is cultivated for its stigmas, -whieh constitute the 

 saffron (true) of commerce, once used extensively as a tonic condiment, and still 

 given as a stimulating medicine to cage birds. Cake saffron, however, contains no 

 saffron, but is a paste manufactured from the florets of Carthamus tinctorius. Tho 

 use of saffron as a medicine, condiment or dye, dates from the remotest antiquity, as 

 we incidentally gather from Homer, who speaks of the Dawn,' with ' sajf'rvii robe.' 



AGAVE^-E. 

 Agave, Linnctus. 



* A. Ajiericaxa. 



This plant, though introduced, flourishes well in Burma. It is of great value 

 as a hedge plant, forming, when well and closely planted, an impenetrable barrier 

 to that nuisance of our stations, stray cattle. The fibre of the leaves is strong, and, 

 when dressed and made up, yields an elegant fidsric. The fleshy leaves dried and 

 cut up can be used as a substitute for cork. Bitter aloes is the inspissated juice of 

 various species of At/me, the best being reported to come from Socotra. 



** Albumen none or cellular. Einhryo very obscure. Seeds very minute, except 

 in Taccacem. 



TACCALES. 

 Flowers hermaphrodite, regular. Pcriitnth sex-lobate. Stamens 3 or 6, inserted 

 on the perianth tube. Anthers peculiar. Fruit capsular or berried. Seeds minute, 

 exalbuminous or larger and albuminous. 



Order TACCACEJ?:. 

 Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth superior, petaloid, sex-merous, biseriate. 

 Stamens 6. Filaments concave. Anthers atbiate to their concave face. Ovary in- 

 ferior, 1 -celled, with 3 parietal placentas. Ovules numerous. Fruit, a beny. Seeds 

 numerous. Leaves broad, with a midrib and diverging veins. 



Tacca, Forster. 



* T. riNNATiFiDA, Forst. (M.). 



Touk-ta. 



This species is cultivated for its tuberous roots, which are rich in starcli, and 

 from which in Tahiti an arrowroot is prepared. 



T. L.EVis, Roxb. (P.). 



Order BITHMANNIACE.^. 



Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth su])erior, sex-partite, biseriate. Ovary inferior, 

 1 to 3-cellcd. Stigmas 3. Seeds with cellular testa, exalbuminous. Kmhryo un- 

 divided. Leaves narrow, with parallel venation, or broader and net-veined. 



Blrm.vnnia, Linnaus. 



B. TRIIT.ORA, Wight (P.). 



B. Ju.NCEA, Brown (P.). 



' 'Hi't fiif KpoKOiriwXo! iKiStaro Traffav {tt' aJai".— Ili.iil, f). 1. 1. 



