SPERMATOPHYTA— LILIIFLORAE 375 



Ovary inferior, at least in part. 



Stamens 3, opposite the inner segments Haemodoraceae 



Stamens 6. 



Erect perennial herbs; flowers perfect Amaryllidaceae 



Stamens 3, opposite the outer segments Iridaceae 



I. LiLiACEAE. Lily Family 



Herbs or rarely woody plants with regular, symmetrical flowers; perianth 

 not glumaceous; 3 sepals; 3 petals; 6 stamens; ovary 3-celled ; fruit a pod or 

 berry; embryo enclosed in the hard albumen. A family of about 1,600 species,, 

 including among others, several ornamental plants like the lily, lily of the 

 valley, and yucca; some medicinal plants like squill, aloe, and false hellebore; 

 and several poisonous plants like death camas and colchicum, the latter, native 

 to Europe and Africa. The fatal poisonous nature of Colchicum was familiar 

 to the ancients, it being known to contain several poisons, such as the alkaloid 

 colchicin C^^Yi.^^'^0^, an amorphous, yellowish white gum, chiefly an alkaline 

 bitter substance, which, on boiling with acids, yields colchicein C^^H^^NOg, 

 and a yellowish green resin. 



Animals that eat the plant suffer with acute gastro-enteritis, coma, stagger- 

 ing, weak pulse, and increased urination. The family also includes several 

 economic plants like the onion {Allium Porrum) ; garlic {Allium sativum) ; 

 chives {A. Schoenoprasum) ; shallot {A. ascalonicum) ; hyacinth {Hyacinthus- 

 orientalis) ; New Zealand flax {Phormium tenax), native to New Zealand 

 where it occupies much of the country, and is now used in large quantities for 

 making ropes and mats; {Yucca filamentosa) and {¥. augustifolia), the former 

 a well known plant of the South and the latter a well known plant of the 

 West, both species frequently cultivated for ornamental purposes, a large 

 number of other species of the genus Yucca being also found in the Southwest. 

 The day lily {Funkia subcordata), several species of the tulip {Tulipa), and 

 several species of Lilium are cultivated. Perhaps the most common in the old 

 gardens is the tiger lily, {L. tigrinum). Several species of the aloes are com- 

 mon in cultivation in greenhouses. They are also medicinal, containing the 

 substance aloinum, a neutral principle, which yields barbatorin C^.H^qO. Aloes 

 are cathartic. The California or Mariposa lily belongs to the genus Calochortus. 

 The asparagus {Asparagus officinalis) is cultivated and is a well known 

 vegetable. The cultivated smilax {Asparagus medeoloides) is a native to the 

 Cape of Good Hope. The dragon-tree {Cordyline terminalis) is frequently 

 cultivated. Some of the species of the latter like "Ti" of the Sandwich Islands 

 are of economic importance. The roots of "Ti" contain a saccharine matter,, 

 from which the natives extract sugar; they also bake the roots and eat them. 

 The remarkable dragon-tree of the Canaries is noted for its large circumfer- 

 ence and comparatively low height. The Botany Bay resin {Xanthorrhoea 

 hastilis) is chiefly used as a shellac for making colored varnishes. 



Yucca leaves contain salicylic acid. Several investigators have reported 

 saponin in the roots of Yucca filamentosa, Y. augustifolia, and Y. imperialis 

 contain the alkaloid imperialin C^^^H^^jNO^. In the former. Dr. Helen Abbot 

 Michael reports the presence of several resins, the amount varying from 8-10 

 per cent in the root. She regarded the saponin as a constructive glucoside 

 which served to unite what are known as the Saponin groups. Saponin occurs 

 in many different plants, especially in the Sapotaceae. 



