144 KEY TO NATURAL ORDERS. [chap. 



DioscoREACE^ (p. 309). — Usually twining herbs with net- 

 veined simple or digitate leaves. Flowers unisexual. Peri- 

 anth six-lobed. Ovary inferior, three-celled. 



LiLiACE/E (p. 310). — Herbs (in Dracaena shrubs or tree- 

 like). Perianth six-leaved, regular, coloured. Stamens six. 

 Ovary superior, three-celled. 



JuNCACE^ (p. 312). — Herbs with grass-like or quill-like 

 leaves. Perianth six-leaved, regular, scarious. Stamens six. 

 Ovary superior. 



CoMMELYNACE^ (p. 3 1 3). — Hcrbs, the leaves usually 

 deeply sheathing at the base. Perianth nearly regular, the 

 three inner segments petaloid, three outer herbaceous. 

 Stamens six, or fewer. Ovary superior, three- or two-celled. 



Eriocaulone^ (p. 314). — Aquatic or marsh herbs. 

 Flowers minute, unisexual, in terminal heads. Perianth of 

 staminate flowers tubular ; of pistillate, three-leaved. 



PoNTEDERiACEiE (p. 3 1 4). — Aquatic herbs. Flowers her- 

 maphrodite, petaloid, irregular, racemose from the sheath of 

 the upper or only leaf of the scape. Ovary superior. 



OrchidacevE (p. 315). — Epiphytal or terrestrial herbs, 

 rarely scandent. Flowers irregular. Stamen one (except 

 Cyripedinm with two), consolidated with the stigma. Ovary 

 inferior. 



BuRMANNiACE^ (p. 322). — Herbs with grass-like or scaly 

 leaves. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite. Perianth coloured. ^ 

 Stamens three to six. Ovary inferior. 



SciTAMiNE^ (p. 322). — Herbs with irregular coloured 

 flowers. Stamen one, free (except in Musa). Ovary inferior, 

 three-celled. 



Amaryllide^ (p. 326). — Herbs with regular coloured 

 flowers. Perianth six-lobed. Stamens six. Ovary inferior, 

 three-celled. 



Iridace^e (p. 329). — Herbs with regular or irregular 



