THE MOR^A AND GLADIOLUS FAMILY. 259 



Iridege. 

 The Mor^a. and Gladiolus Family. 



This order has 700 species of nearly 60 genera in 

 3 tribes. In South Africa there are 20 genera. They 

 all agree in having only three stamens, whereas, except- 

 ing orchids, other orders of the Petaloideae have almost 

 always six. 



The ovary is inferior, and the perianth superior, in 

 all members. 



Morae'a.— There are many species of this genus in 

 South Africa. The flowers are quite regular (Fig. 100, 

 L). In the figure the outer leaf of the perianth facing 

 the observer has been removed, showing one of the 

 three epigynous stamens behind it {sta?). Behind the 

 stamen rises one of the style arms ; but just above the 

 anther (where the horizontal shading terminates) is a 

 little ledge constituting the stigma. The honey-tubes 

 are at the base of the filaments. An insect alights 

 in the expanded sepal {p.s), depresses it, and while 

 searching below for honey, gets dusted on the head, as 

 the anther bursts outwards (ext^orse). Then, on 

 entering over another sepal, the ledge scrapes off the 

 pollen. (II.) shows the positions of the leaves of the 

 perianth, the three stamens in front of the outer ones 

 (sepals), and the pistil of three carpels, which cohere in 

 the middle. 



