LILIACEE. | 257 
panicles or fascicles ; bracts usualiy smal] and scarious, or spathe- 
like when the flowers are in umbels.  Perianth herbaceous or peta- 
loid, usualiy 6-merous in 2 series, rarely, 4- or 8- or 10-merous, 
imbriacte or rarely valvate in bud. Stamens 6, rarely 3 or fewer, 
hypgynous or adnate to the perianth, filaments free or connate ; 
anthers oblong or linear, often dorsifixed. Ovary 3-celled, usually 
simple, often long, rarely short on none or with 3 styles ; ovules 2 
or more, on the inner angles of the cells, anatropous rarely orttho 
thropous. Fruit a capsule or berry, usually 3-celled. Seeds 1 or 
more, globose or flattened ; embryo small, terete. surrounded by 
the horny or fleshy albumen.—Species about 2,500, in all climates 
-and countries. 
Shrubs with perennial stems above ground ; 
fruit berry-like :— . 
Stems climbing or straggling; leaves re- 
placed by linear or ana. scales 
(cladodes) . . ; . 1. ASPARAGUS. 
Stems leafy, usually olimsbane? baie 3-5- 
nerved, reticulate-veined : . 2. SMmax. 
Herbs with annual stems or scapes rising 
usually from underground perennial root- 
stocks corms or bulbs, rarely (in Asphodelus) 
the plant wholly annual :— 
Underground perennial stems large in pro- 
portion to the roots :— 
Aerial annual stem climbing, leafy ; 
leaves broad, with tendril-like tips ; 
perianth lar se, showy ; rootstock tuber- 
like, naked ‘ ‘ : , . 3. GLORIOSA. 
Aerial annual stems or scapes erect; 
leaves narrow; rootstock a globose 
coated corm or bulb :— 
Perennial stem a solid corm covered 
with brown sheaths; annual stem 
leafy ; flowers solitary orcorymbose 4. I[PHIGENIA, 
Perennial stem a tunicated bulb; 
annual scape simple, naked; leaves 
radical ; flowers racemose :— 
Seeds sub-globose.; perianth stzllate 5. Scrua, 
