172 ENGLISH] BOTANY. 
which parallel veins are given off; rarely the leaves are reduced to 
scales, and the branches assume the appearance of leaves (cladodia). 
Flowers perfect or (rarely) polygamous, variously disposed, often on a 
leafless scape. Perianth regular or rarely irregular, free from the 
ovary, or only slightly adhering to its base, of 6 (rarely 8 or 4) 
leaves, all similar and petaloid, or the outer ones herbaceous on 
the back (rarely all herbaceous) or monophyllous and coloured and 
6-cleft or 6-toothed. Stamens as many as the lobes of the perianth 
and opposite to them, inserted on their base or hypogynous, rarely 
only 3 by the other three being sterile, or more than 6 by the addition 
of other sterile ones forming an additional row or crown; anthers 
affixed by the base, or by the middle of the back, introrse or extrorse. 
Ovary superior, free from the perianth tube, or rarely adhering to it at 
the base, with the cells half as many as the perianth segments, i.e. 
generally 3-celled, rarely 1-celled, or of 3 separate carpels; ovules 
definite or indefinite, attached to the inner angle of the cells or car- 
pels, or parietal in those species which have a 1-celled ovary; style 
single or more rarely as many as the cells of the ovary. Fruit a 
capsule, loculicidally 3-valved, or septicidally 3-valved, or an inde- 
hiscent berry. Seeds with a testa of various consistence; albumen 
fleshy or horny, copious. 
Sus-Orprer I].—TRILLEZ. 
Leaves of the perianth free, the outer ones herbaceous, the inner 
ones smaller and herbaceous or larger and petaloid, or absent, very 
rarely all coloured and similar. Styles or stigmas free. Fruit a berry. 
Herbs with creeping rootstocks more or less thickened. Stem 
simple, with whorled leaves. Leaves few, with reticulated veins. 
GENUS I—PARIS. Linn. 
Flowers perfect. Perianth leaves free, herbaceous, at length de- 
ciduous, in two rows, variable in number, but commonly 4 in each 
row; the outer segments spreading or recurved; the inner ones 
smaller and much narrower, linear, spreading, rarely absent. Stamens 
8, or twice as many as the outer row of perianth segments; filaments 
linear-subulate, inserted on the very base of the perianth segments ; 
anthers appendiculate, extrorse. Ovary free, sessile, subglobose, 4- 
or 5-celled; ovules 4 to 7 in each cell; styles or stigmus filiform 
or subulate, as many as the cells of the ovary, free. Berry fleshy or 
