722 COLCHICACE&. 
Urginea.— U. Scilla (Scilla maritima).—The bulb of this species is the 
official Squill. It is a valuable medicine ; in small doses acting as an ex- 
pectorant and diuretic, and in larger doses as an emetic and cathartic. In 
excessive doses it is a narcotico-acrid poison. Two active principles have 
been known for some time as contained in Squill, one of which has been 
reputed to possess expectorant and diuretic properties and not poisonous ; 
and the other without any value in medicine, but acting simply as an irri- 
tant poison: the former has been called scillitin, the latter seulein. Merck 
has more recently, however, found three principles, which he terms seilli- 
toxin, scillipicrin, and scillin, and he infers that the medicinal activity of 
Squill depends upon the two former.—U. ind’ca and some other species 
appear to have similar properties to the official Squill. 
Xanthorrhea.—The species of this genus are commonly known in New 
South Wales, where they are natives, under the name of Grass-trees. Their 
tops afford fodder for cattle, and their young leaves and buds are eaten as a 
vegetable. From X. arborea, X. hastilis, and others, two resins are ob- 
tained; one of which is known as the Yellow Resin of New Holland or 
Botany Bay Resin, the other as the Red Resin of New Holland or Black-boy 
Gum. The latter appears to be the produce of X. hastilis. Both resins 
extde spontaneously from the trunks of the trees, and both possess a fragrant 
balsamic obour. They have been recommended for use in the preparation 
of pastilles, and medicinally in those cases where tolu and other balsams are 
employed. 
Yucca gloriosa and other species which are commonly known under the 
name of Adam’s Needle yield fibres, but these are little used. The leaves 
ot Y. baccata, Y. brevifolia, Y. Whipplei, and Y. angustifolia, natives of 
New Mexico, Arizona, and of South California, have been recommended 
recently as a valuable material for paper manufacture. 
Order 2. CoLtcHiIcacE® or MELANTHACE®.—The Colchicum 
Order.—Character.—Herbs, with bulbs, corms (figs. 246 and 
1092), tubers, or fibrous roots. Flowers regular (jigs. 1092 and 
1093), usually hermaphrodite, or rarely unisexual. Perianth 
inferior, white, green, or purple (jig. 1092), 6-partite or 6- 
leaved. Stamens 6 (figs. 519 and 1093); anthers extrorse (fig. 
519). Ovary superior or nearly so, 3-celled, with axile pla- 
centation (fig. 1093); style 3-partite (fig. 1092); stigmas 3. 
Fruit 3-celled (fig. 1094), 5-valved, with usually septicidal de- 
hiscence (fig. 669). Seeds numerous ; embryo minute, in fleshy 
albumen (fig. 1095). 
By Bentham and Hooker the plants of this order (see Liliacez) 
ave now placed, according to the views of Baker, in the Liliacex. 
Diaunosis.—Herbs. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or 
rarely unisexual. Perianth inferior, 6-partite or 6-leaved. 
Stamens 6; anthers extrorse. Ovary superior ; style 5-partite. 
Fruit a septicidal or very rarely a loculicidal capsule, 3-celled, 
3-valved, membranous. Seeds numerous, albuminous. 
Distribution and Numbers.—Generally diffused, but most 
abundant in Europe, North America, and the northern parts of 
Asia. Illustrative Genera:—Colchicum, Li. ; Tofieldia, Hud- 
son. There are about 150 species. 
Properties and Uses.—The plants of this order are almost 
universally poisonous owing to the presence of powerful alka- 
loids. But in proper doses several are valuable medicines, pos- 
