MONOCOTYLEDONS 31 



Amaryllidaceae and DioscoreacesB. — These two orders 

 ditter from Liliacea? in having an inferior instead of a 

 superior ovary. They are similar in possessing 6 stamens, 

 in addition to the other eliaracters peculiar to Mono- 

 cotyledons. 



liLACK Bryony (Tamus comm iinis). — This species, 

 wliich is unknown in Scotland and Ireland, is the only 

 British representative of a family (Dioscoreacese) possess- 

 nig many foreign representatives, the best kno^vn of which 

 is the Yum plant. It is recognized by its climbing habits, 

 its tendency to scramble over hedges, and its oval, pointed, 

 and glossy leaves (fig. 14). The flowers are small, green, 

 and unisexual] that is, the stamens and carpels are never 

 found together in the same flower, some flowers being 

 carpellary only, others staminate only. The large fleshy 

 root is somethnes used in its fresh state as an external 

 application to bruises, and taken internally it acts as an 

 emetic. In the Middle Ages these roots were accredited 

 with healing virtues, and were supposed to be especially 

 good for rheumatism. 



Care must be taken to distinguish the Black Bryony 

 from Black-berried Bryony {Bryonia alba) and Red- 

 berried Bryonia {Bryonia dioica). The two latter are 

 not Monocotyledons and liave nothing in common with 

 Black Bryony. 



Black Bryony has a very acrid root and is used by 

 quacks as a purgative; but the remedy may be found 

 to be worse than the disease, and consequently emphasis 

 should be laid on the poisonous rather than on the medi- 

 cinal qualities of this plant. It may be noted further 

 that the berries have been known to cause paralysis of 

 the lower limbs. 



Black Bryony root is hsted as a plant which in 

 ^^orth collectinor, ow^inor to its being in demand by her- 



hah^ts. It is sold in the fresh state, and is kept in 



