67: 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



shops. The substance sold under that name bein? the pressed florets of Cartha- 

 mus tinctorius. (see Carthamus). Saffron contains a colouring principle called 

 polijchroite. The dried stigmas of some otliei species, as C. aureus, C. odorvs, 

 C. iuteus, C. vernus. &c.,are sometimes emplo)ed for the preparation of saffron 

 in certain parts of the Continent, &c. Saffron is much used as a flavouring 

 agent on the Continent and in the East. In this country it is principally em- 

 ployed as a colouring agent in pharmacy, in certain nervous affections, and as 

 an emmenagogue. Bird-fanciers also use it, as they believe it assists the 

 moulting of birds. 



Natural Order 254. Amaryllidace^. — The Amaryllis 

 Order (/^5. 1038 — 1040). — Bulbous or fibrous-rooted plants, 



Fig. 1038. 



Fig. 1039. 



Fig. 1038. Diagram of the flower of the Spring Snowflake (Leucoiiim vemum}, 

 with six divisions to the perianth arranged in two wliorls, six stamens, and 



a three-celled ovary with axile placentation. Fig. 10;5".>. The perianth of 



the Daffodil (^Narcu<sus F.<>eiido-narcissus) cut open in a vertical manner, t. 



Tube bearing six stamens. I. Limb of the perianth, h. Corona, Fig. 



1040. Vertical section of the flower of the Spring Snowflake {Leucqjum 

 vernum). Fig. 1041. Vertical section of the seed of the same. 



without any aerial stem, or sometimes having a woody one. 

 Leaves with parallel straight venation, linear-ensiform. Flowers 

 usually on scapes, and spathaccous (fig. 379). Perianth regu- 

 lar or nearly so (figs. 379 and 1038), petaloid, superior, (fig. 

 1040), with G divisions, and with (figs. 487 and 1039 m) or with- 

 out a corona (fig. 1040). Stame7is 6, inserted on the scg- 



