678 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



and Pterocarpus .^ The roots of D. terminalis, the Ti Plant, are baked, and 

 eaten largely hy the inhabitants of the Sandwich Islands. A fermented bever- 

 age is also obtained from its juice Its leaves are also employed as fodder for 

 cattle, and for clothing ;md other domestic purposes. 



Polygonatum ofpcinale f^x vulgare. — Tlie rhizomes of this, and probnbly 

 those of P. nntltiflorum, are sold in the herb shops under the name of Solo- 

 mon's Seal. They are employed as a popular application to remove the marks 

 from bruised |)a'ts of the body. 



Rusctis acttleatvs. Butcher's Broom {Fig. 386), has aperient and diuretic 

 roots, which were formerly much employed in visceral diseases. The roasted 

 seeds have been employed as a substitute for coffee. 



Natural Order. 260, MELANTHACEiE or Colchicace^e. — 

 The Colchicum Order {figs. 1048— 1051). — Herbs, with bulbs 



Fig. 1048. 



Fia. 1049. 



Fig. 1050. 



Fig. 1051. 



Fia 1048 The flowering plant of the Meadow Saffron (Colchicum mitumnale). 

 Fiu. 1049. Diagram of tlie flower of Die above, witli six divisions to the 

 perianth, arranged in two whorls ; six stamens: and an ovury composed of 



three carpels Fig. lOoO. Transverse section of the fruit ot the above 



Fif/. 1051. Vertical section of the seed. 



coriris (figs. 229 and 1048), tuberous or fibrous roots. Flowers 

 rcj^ular {fig. 1048), usually hermaphrodite, rarely unisexual. 

 Ferianth inleriur, wliite, green, or purple, ])etaloid {fig. 1048), 

 e-parted or G-leavcd. Stamens 6 {figs. 507, 1048 and 1049); 

 anthtrs cxlrorsc {fig. 507). Ovury ^uperior or nearly so, 3- 

 celled {fig. 1049^; style 3-parted {fig. 1048). Fruit 3-celled 

 (fig, 1050), 3-valved, with commonly septicidal dehiscence 

 (fig 654), sometimes loculicidal. Seeds with a membranous 

 testa ; embryo minute, in fleshy albumen (fig. 1051). 



Distribution, ^c. — Generally ditiused, but most abundant in 



