.53C IRIDACE^ [CHAP, 



favourite beverage called " pulque." It is now generally 

 introduced throughout India. 



The inferior ovary is the principal mark by which this 

 Family is distinguished from the Lilies. 



III. Natural Order, Iridacece. — The Iris Family. 

 Herbs, with six-leaved petaloid perianth, three stamens, 

 and three-celled inferior ovary. 



Type — Pardanthus chinensis. 

 A common garden herb, with equitant, vertically flattened 

 leaves, and a terminal panicle of showy, orange-coloured, 

 regular flowers, spotted with scarlet. 



A large temperate and South African Family, unimportant 

 in India and in the tropics generally, excepting a few 

 species planted for the sake of their showy flowers. 



Our Type-species is a Chinese and Formosan plant, very 

 common in Indian gardens. 



Observe the sheathing, vertically flattened leaves, arranged 

 alternately on opposite sides of the stem, characteristic of 

 the Family : the stigmas in Iris dilated and petaloid ; less 

 so in Pardunthus. 



112. Natural Order, HydrocharidecB. — The Frogbit 

 Family. 

 Submerged or floating plants. Flowers usually unisexual. 

 Ovaiy inferior. 



