U6 NARCISSALES. [Endogens. 



Alliance XL NARCISSALES. — The Narcissal Alliance. 



Diagnosis. — Ejngy^iov.'i petaloid Endogens, ivith symmetriccd flowers, 3 or 6 stamens, and 



albujainoiis seeds. 



From the Hydi'al Alliance and its higher forms, such as the Water Soldiers (Stra- 

 tiotes), we pass, by an easy transition, to the Narcissals, which may be regarded as 

 hermaphrodite Hydrals growing on dry land, and ha^ving albumen in their seeds. 

 This transition is effected by the Broraelworts (Bromehaceae), which have quite the 

 same habit, and in adcUtion a tripetaloid flower. This point being settled, the remain- 

 der of the Alliance consists of plants which might be regarded as Lilials, if theii' ovary 

 were not adherent ; for it is difficult to separate the Irids from Melanths or the 

 Amaryllids from Lilyworts, by any other precise character. 



The principal difficulty in limiting this Alhance arises out of the Bromelworts, some 

 of whose genera have the ovary absolutely free : but such plants are not at all hke any 

 other pait of the system, and if theu" calyx is free, it is so fleshy or permanent as to 

 liave all the external appearance of being adherent to the ovary. 



While however there is, as has been stated, a gentle passage from Hydrals mto Narcis- 

 sals, we find, on the other hand, the Aral Alliance provided here with its representative in 

 the form of the Taccads, which have much the habit of some Arads, and nevertheless 

 an adherent ovary and almost tripetaloideous flower. These plants have also a very 

 eWdent resemblance to Orontiaceae. 



Natural Orders of Narcissals. 

 Flowers tnpetaloideous, G-leaved, imbricated. Albumen meahj . 42. BROMELiACEiE. 

 Floioers half tripetaloideous, tubular. Albumen fleshy . . . . 43. Taccace^. 

 Flowers hexapetaloideous, tid)idar, scarcely imbricated. Stamens 3, "j 



opposite the petals, or 6; anther's turned inwards. Radicle 1 44. H^modorace.^. 



remote from the hilum, which is naked J 



Floivers hexapetaloideous, ranch imbricated. Stamens 6 ; anthers 1 



txirmd inwards. Radicle remote from the hilum,, which is often 1 45. Hypoxidace^. 



strophiolate J 



Floioers hexapetaloideous, much imbricated. Stamens 6, or more ;\,r < 



anthers turned imvards. Radicle next the hilum |4b. Amaryllidace.e. 



Floioers hexapetaloideous. Stamem 3, opposite the sepcds ; a^ithers'] ,^ r 



turned outwards |47. Iridace^. 



