THE LILY FAMILY 



153 



the whole flower consists of five whorls of three leaves each, 

 which always alternate with those of the neighbouring whorl. 

 The ovules are attach- 

 ed to the seams of the 

 carpels, and appear in 

 the transverse section 

 (fig. 138) as axillary 

 growths (axile placent- 

 ation). The tips of the 

 three carpels unite to- 

 gether, and taper into 

 a slender style which 

 again betrays its three- 

 fold nature by a three- 

 parted stigma. m^M/y FiV. 140.- The White Lily 



^ {Lilium candidum). 



Other Lilies. " "^ 



The family of the 

 Lilies to which the Gloriosa belongs, is much celebrated in poetry. 

 The White Lily {Lilium candidum, fig. 140), growing in temper- 

 ate climates, is the emblem of purity. 



Other plants belonging to this family are the Onion {Allium 

 cepa; Xaw. Nirulli; Mal.\v\\\\\\ Tam..\v\\\\\\ Te?. Nirulli; Hin. 

 Pyaj); the Garlic {Alliimi sativum; Kan. l>ellulli; Mai., Tam., 

 Tel. Vellulli; Hin. Lasun) ; the Leek {Allium ampeloperasum); 

 the Dragon Tree, Cordyline terminalis, with copper-coloured 

 leaves, crowded together at the top of a thin cylindrical stem, 

 and panicles of small purplish flowers; Smilax macrophylla, 

 a prickly climber with two tendrils at the base of its leaf-stalks, 

 and the Wild Asparagus {Asparagus sarmentosiis ; Kan. Halavu- 

 makkalatayi ; Mai. Cadavelikilahu ; Tarn. Cattiraveri; Tel. 

 Uallagaddalu). The latter has a bundle of many long tuberous 

 roots. Its delicate climbing stem has thorns turned downwards 

 (necessary for climbing, compare Rose, page 45) and its leaves 

 are reduced to minute scales, from the axils of which green leaf- 

 like organs grow, which are homologous with branches and have 

 the function of leaves. The white flowers are small but numer- 



