702 LILIACES. 
tite; segments in 2 series, imbricate or rarely valvate. Stamens 
6, rarely 3, inserted towards the base of the perianth-segments 
and opposite to them, rarely hypogynous ; filaments free or connate: 
at the base; anthers oblong or linear, 2-celled, versatile. Ovary 
superior, 3-celled (sometimes imperfectly so in Astela); style 
usually simple with a small terminal stigma, or more or less deeply 
divided into 3 stigmatic branches; ovules few or many in each cell, 
attached to the inner angle, usually anatropous. Fruit a 3-celled 
(rarely 1-celled) capsule or berry. Seeds 1 or more in each cell, 
globose or angular or flattened ; testa frequently black, crustaceous: 
or membranous ; albumen copious, fleshy or horny ; embryo smaili, 
terete. 
A very large and important order, found all over the world, but more 
abundant in temperate and subtropical regions than in the tropics. It is fre- 
quently divided into 3 or 4 separate orders, but in a small Flora it seems. 
advisable to avoid extreme subdivision. Genera estimated at 190, species 
about 2500. The order has many useful species. The onion, leek, garlic, 
and asparagus are well-known edible plants. Aloes, squills, and sarsaparilla 
are important medicines. Phormiwm produces one of the strongest of vege- 
table fibres. Some are dangerous poisons, as white hellebore and meadow- 
saffron. Among the multitude of showy garden-plants it will be sufficient 
to mention the lily, tulip, hyacinth, asphodel, lily of the valley. Of the 
10 genera found in New Zealand, Phormiuwm extends to Norfolk Island ; 
Rhipogonum, Herpolirion, and Arthropodium occur in Australia, the latter in 
New Caledonia as well; Hnargea in Chili and the Falkland Islands; Astelia in 
Australia, the Pacific islands, and temperate South America; Bulbinella in 
South Africa; the remaining three (Cordyline, Dianella, and Iphigenia) are 
widely distributed. 
A. Fruit a berry. 
* Leaves with distant parallel primary veins connected by transverse veinlets.. 
Tall branching climber. Leaves usually opposite. Flowers 
racemose or paniculate ae ; .. 1. RarPogonum. 
Stems short, wiry, creeping. Leaves alternate. Flowers 
solitary or 2-3, axillary 3 2 ae .. 2. ENARGEA. 
** Veins of leaves not connected by transverse veinlets. 
Stems woody, usually arborescent. Leaves crowded at the 
ends of the stem or branches, glabrous. Flowers her- 
maphrodite; perianth deciduous... . 38. CORDYLINE- 
Large tufted herbs. Leaves all radical, more or less 
clothed with silky hairs. Flowers dicecious; perianth 
persistent .. ays 314 A re .. 4, ASTELIA. 
Tufted herbs. Leaves all radical, glabrous. Flowers her- 
maphrodite; filaments thickened upwards .. .. 5, DIANELLA. 
B. Fruit a capsule. 
Leaves long, narrow, coriaceous. Scapve tall, branched 
above. Perianth tubular, curved . . 6. PHORMIUM. 
Leaves, linear, fleshy. Scape stout, naked, Flowers race- 
mose, yellow ; filaments naked .. T. BULBINELLA. 
Scape stout, with leafy bracts. Flowers panicled, white ; 
pedicels jointed in the middle. Filaments bearded .. 8. ARTHROPODIUM. 
