Ul 



ORDER CLXXTV. AMARYLLIDE^. 



An Order containing a very large proportion of ornamental plants, 

 some of wliicli, such as tlie species of Crinum, Olivia, and Hajmanthus 

 amongst African genera, and Narcissus, Pancratium, Boraarea, and 

 others amongst foreign genera are very showy, while the Snowdrop 

 (Galanthus nivalis) and the Snowflake {Leucojuni vernuni) are more 

 admired for the gracefulness of their flowers, and the latter for its 

 scent also. Both are natives of northern climates. 6ome species of 

 the family have the reputation of being poisonous, but it is quite possible 

 that their deleterious properties have in some cases been exagge- 

 rated The well-known " American Aloe " belongs to this Order, and 

 is not an Aloe, its correct name being Agave americana ; its leaves 

 yield a very strong fibre, and the Mexicans obtain from its sap a liquid, 

 which, when fermented is known as " Pulque," and is very intoxicating. 

 What is known locally as " Mauritius Hemp," is obtained from one or 

 more species of Furcraea, plants which are also incorrectly called Aloes; 

 these plants are also natives of South America, but are being largely 

 cultivated in many parts of the world. 



Number of species about 650. 



KEY TO TRIBES. 



Rootstock a tunicated corm. Spathe not present. 



Flowers usually yellow, hairy outside. 

 Rootstock a tunicated bulb. Flowers usually in an 



umbel subtended by a spathe, never hairy 



outside. 

 Rootstock not bulbous. Flowers solitary, more or less 



glandular outside. 



A. Hypoxidece. 



B. Amarylle^. 



C. Vellozie^. 



Stamens 6. 

 Stamens 6. 



KEY TO GENERA. 



A. HYPOXIDE^. 



Perianth with a tube. Fruit indehiscent. 

 Perianth without a tube. Fruit a capsule 



with circumscissile dehiscence. 



Cdrouligo. 

 Hypoxis. 



B. AMARYLLEiE. 

 Anthers basifixed. 

 Anthers dorsifixed, versatile. 



1 Flowers umbellate. Anthers oblong, sagittate. 



Perianth with a short tube. 

 1 Flowers umbellate. Anthers small, globose. 



Perianth cut down nearly to base. 

 1 Flowers solitary. Anthers linear. 

 Fruit indehiscent, or bursting irregularly, seeds 1, 



or few, bulbiform. 

 Fruit a 3-valved capsule. Seeds many, compressed. 

 Fruit baccate or capsular. Ovules 2, or few, 



clustered at the middle of the placenta. 



Anoiganthus. 



Hessea. 

 Apodolirion. 



