238 TRILLIACEJE— HERB PARIS TRIBE 



common variation is in cases of five leaves ; and in those rare instances of 

 the Herb Paris with three leaves only, it has usually been found without 

 inflorescence. 



The flowers give off an unpleasant odour, which probably suggests to 

 carrion-loving flies that the purple-brown ovary is a fragment of decomposing 

 animal matter. Though perfectly dry it shines as though wet, and the well- 

 known yellowish-brown dung-fly (Scatophaga) comes, attracted by the smell, 

 and licks it ; but, of course, gets no satisfaction. Then it climbs up over 

 the anthers and dusts its under surface with pollen, which it carries oft' to the 

 next Herb Paris flower, and deposits on the stigmas. 



The Herb Paris occurs in moist shady woods, in many parts of England 

 and Scotland. It has several country names, as One-berry, and True-love. 

 The French call it Parisette, Raisin de Renard, and Etranrjle Loup ; the 

 Germans, Einheere ; the Dutch, Wolfsberie ; and the Italians, Uva di Volpe. 

 Parkinson says that the leaves applied outwardly repress tumours and 

 inflammation, and the Russian physicians prescribe the berries as a medicine 

 for disorders of the brain. Every part of the plant contains a poisonous 

 principle, which is strongest in the berries. Gesner remarked that these 

 proved fatal to poultry. This botanist, among his various experiments on 

 plants, swallowed a drachm of the Herb Paris in wine, and the close was 

 succeeded by copious perspiration and dryness of the throat. When taken 

 in large quantity, the effects of this herb are now well known to be con- 

 vulsion and delirium. Dr. Hamilton, in his "Flora Homoeopathica," says 

 that cofl'ee is an antidote to the poison of an overdose. The homoeopathists 

 use every part of the plant in their infinitesimal doses, as a remedy for 

 rheumatism, cough, and bronchitis. 



Order LXXXVIII. LILIACE^E— LILY TRIBE. 



Flowers usually perfect ; sepals 6, petal-like, distinct or united, and 

 forming a tube ; stamens 6, inserted upon the perianth ; ovary superior, 

 3-celled, many-seeded ; style 1 ; stigma simple or 3-lobed ; capsule 3-celled, 

 3-valved, oblong ; seeds numerous. The order consists chiefly of perennial 

 herbs, rarely shrubs or trees ; the greater number being beautiful flowers 

 with bulbous roots, and leaves with veins running from the base to the 

 point, mostly narrow, and never jointed with the stem. In a few instances, 

 the flowers are green and inconspicuous. The roots are fibrous, but the 

 rootstock is either a bulb or fleshy and creeping. Many species contain a 

 bitter juice ; and several, like the Aloe and Squill, yield important medicines; 

 while the New Zealand Flax, Phormium tenax, furnishes, in the tough fibres 

 of its leaves, a substitute for hemp and flax. 



Group I. Asparagus Group {Asparcujeai). 

 Roots never bulbous ; fruit, a berry. 



1. AspAragus. — Perianth deeply 6-cleft, bell-shaped; stamens distinct. 

 Name from the Greek asparagos. 



2. Butcher's Broom {Ruscus). — Perianth deeply 6-cleft, spreading; 



