704 AMARYLLIDACEH. 
3-celled, 3-valved, with loculicidal dehiscence, and numerous 
seeds; or baccate, with 1—3 seeds. Seeds with fleshy or horny 
albumen, sometimes carunculate ; embryo with the radicle turned 
to, or remote from, the hilum (jig. 1065). 
Diagnosis. —Leaves with parallel veins. Flowers spathaceous. 
Perianth superior, petaloid, commonly regular, 6-partite, fre- 
quently with a corona. Stamens 6; anthers introrse. Ovary 
inferior, 3-celled, with axile placentation. Fruit capsular, 3- 
valved, with loculicidal dehiscence, or baccate. Seeds numerous, 
albuminous. 
Fie. 1062. Fie. 1063. 
Fig. 1062. Diagram of the flower of the Spring Snowflake (Zeucojum ver- 
num), with six divisions to the perianth arranged in two whorls, six 
stamens, and a 3-celled ovary with axile placentation.— /%g. 1063. The 
perianth of the Daffodil (Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus) cut open in a ver- 
tical manner. ¢. Tube bearing six stamens. 7. Limb of the perianth. 
n. Corona, 
Distribution and Numbers.—Natives of many parts of the 
world, but, like the Iridacez, most abundant at the Cape of 
Good Hope. Illustrative Genera :—Galanthus, Linn. ; Amaryllis, 
Linn.; Narcissus, Linn.; Agave, Linn.; Hypoxis, Linn. There 
are above 460 species. 
Properties and Uses.—Several plants of this order possess 
poisonous qualities. This property is especially evident in 
Hemanthus toxicarius, the juice of which is used by the Hotten- 
tots to poison their arrow-heads. Some yield excellent fibres. 
The juice of some few species is saccharine, and is employed in 
the preparation of fermented liquors. Starch may be obtained 
from certain species of Alstremeria. Some are bitter and aro- 
matic. Medicinally, several have been used as emetics and 
purgatives. 
Agave americana, the American Aloe, Maguey, or Hundred-years’ Plant, 
The latter name was given under the erroneous idea that this species o¢ 
Agave lived a hundred years before flowering. From the leaves of thig 
and other species the useful fibre known as Aloe Fibre, Pita or Pité Hemp 
? 
