154 HYPOXIDACE.E. [Endogens. 



Order XLV. HYPOXIDACEiE— Hypoxics. 



Ilypoxideae, R. Dr. in Flimlers (1814) ; Agardh Aph. 164 (1823) ; Ed. jmma. No. 235 (1830) ; Endl. 

 Gen. Ixiii. Mcisncr, p. 397. 



Diagnosis. — Narcissal Endor/ens tcitli hexapetaloideousflotoers which are much imlncated, 

 6 stamcm with anthers turned imvards, and a radicle remote from the hilum, which 

 is often strophiolate. 

 Herbaceous plants with a tuberous or fibrous perennial root. Leaves always grow- 

 ing from the root and crown, nowhere else, linear, enth-e, plaited, of a dry textui'e. 

 Scapes sunple or branched, occasionally very short. Flowers complete, . Perianth 

 petaloid, adherent to the ovary, 6-parted, "with the sepals coarser than the petals. 

 Stamens 6, inserted into the base of the segments of the perianth ; filaments distinct ; 

 anthers turned uiwards, 2-celled, erect, opening lengthwise. Ovary adherent, 3-celled, 

 with the cells opposite the sepals ; style terminal, simple ; stigmas distinct or combined, 

 [crowned by an operculum formed by the base of the style. — Herhert'\ ; o^^lles 00, axile, 

 amphitropal. Fruit indehiscent, dry or berried, 1- 2- 3-celled ; seeds 00, roundish, 

 with a lateral hilum, and a beaked strophiole. Embryo in the axis of 

 fleshy albumen, straight, with the radicle remote from the hilum, and 

 directed upwards. 



As far as habit goes, these are very different from the AmarylUds, 

 for theh' leaves are harsh and hairy, and although dwarf, they have 

 no bulbs. But when we look to the fructification there is but 

 little to connect with the difference in the vegetation. It is true 

 that the sepals are much coarser m textm*e than the petals, but that 

 is of small importance ; and in truth it is the position of the em- 

 bryo, remote from the hilum, and that alone, by which the Order is to 

 be certamly known ; for the beaked strophiole, which is often fomid 

 Fig. CII. near the hilum, is of small importance. As to the textm'e of the seed- 

 skin, formerly rehed upon in distinguishing some of the Orders of 

 Endogens, experience and reason equally reject it as an ordinal character. 



The whole number of Hypoxids is mconsiderable. What are known inhabit the Cape 

 of Good Hope, New Holland, the East Indies, the tropics of America, and the warmer 

 parts of the United States. 



The roots of Cm'culigo orchioides are somewhat bitter and aromatic, and are employed 

 in the East Indies m gonorrhoea. The tubers of Cm'culigo stans are eaten in the 

 Marianne islands ; those of Hypoxis erecta are employed by tJie aborigines of North 

 America ui heahug ulcers, and against intermittents. 



GENERA. 

 Curculigo, Go'rtn. I Hj-poxis, L. \ Niobcea, W. 



MoUnerUi , CoXLa. Schnitzleinia, &teud. Pauridia, ^a?-j;. 



Forbesia, Eckl. 



Numbers. Gen. 4. Sp. 60. 



Orchidacece. 

 Position. — Heemodoracese. — Hypoxidace^. — AmaryUidacete. 

 ApostasiacecE. 



Fig. CII.— 1. Seed of Curculigo orchioides; 2. a perijendicular section of \i.—G(ertna: 



