MONOCOTYLEDONS. 33 



scattered, pedicels very short, perianth yellow, globose-ovate, with 

 broad obtuse lobes ; style short, obscurely 3-cleft, capsule ovate, about 

 as long as the perianth. May-June. I^ow, sandy soil. 



VIII. YUCCA. 



Plants with woody and leafy stems, leaves numerous, rigid, 

 spine-pointed, persistent ; flowers in large terminal racemes 

 or panicles, bracted, nodding ; perianth campanulate or bell- 

 shaped, segments 6, nearly alike, deciduous ; stamens 6, fila- 

 ments thickened above, often papillose, anthers small ; ovary 

 sessile, 3-celled, or becoming 6-celled, o-angled, many-ovuled, 

 fruit an oblong, 3-angied, many-seeded, dehiscent capsule, or 

 fleshy and indeliiscent. 



1. Y. ALOiFOLiA L. Aloe-leavp.d Yucca. Stem erect, 3-G in. 

 in diameter, brauclied, rough with tiie transverse leaf-scars, 4-8 ft. 

 high ; leaves rigid, liuear-lanceolate, strongly spine-pointed, rough on 

 the uiargiu, the older leaves reflexed ; panicle short, smooth, densely 

 flowered, 12-18 in. long; periauth white, sometiuies tinged with 

 purple ; capsule pulpy, G-augled, indehisceut. JMay-fJune. ()u sandy 

 soil, luore conimou near the coast. 



2. Y. i-iLAMENTOSA L. SpAxisii Dagger. Stpui stout, 4-12 in. 

 high ; leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, slender-pointed, narrowed 

 al)Ove the spreading aud clasping base, spreading or recurved, smooth, 

 with loose, thread-like filaments on the margins ; panicle elongated, 

 with bract-like leaves on the scape, widely l)rauched, pubescent above, 

 o-O ft. high ; perianth white, bell-shaped, 2 in. wide ; capsule oblong, 

 angles rounde<l, sides furrowed, at length :}-valved and «lehiscent. 

 IMay-Jnne. In sandy soil and often cultivated for ornament. 



11. convallariace;e. LM.YOF PIIK VALLHY FAMII.Y. 



I'crcnnial Iierbs, stems leafy or Rca]iose, often from a thick- 

 ened rootstock, never i'rom a bulb or corm ; flow(M'S solitary or 

 variously clustered; leaves broad aud oft<Mi with netted veins, 

 or filiform, alternate or whorled ; ])eriantli 4 -()-i)arted, seg- 

 ments distinct or pailly uuiteil ; stauu'us 4 (>, hypogynous or 

 inserted on the perianth; ovary Iree, 2 .'{-celled, ovules few 

 oi' many, style long or sliort, stigmas mostly iMobed ; fruit 

 a berry. 



