PETALOIDE^. 677 



Natural Order 255. Hypoxidace.^. — The Hypoxis Order. — 

 Diagnosis. — This is a small order of herbaceous plants, closely 

 allied to Amaryllidacese, but distinguished by their habit, their 

 dry harsh leaves, by the outer divisions of their perianth being 

 of coarser texture than the inner, by their seeds being commonly 

 strophiolate, and especially by the radicle of their embryo being 

 remote from the hilum. The latter character is of the most 

 importance. 



Distributimi, ^'C. — They are scattered over various warm parts 

 of the globe. Examples of Uie Genera: — Forbesia, H}^oxis. 

 There are about 60 species. 



Proptrties and Uses. — They are reputed bitter and aromatic. 

 The roots of CurcuUgo orchioides are used in Travancore by the 

 native doctors in gonorrhoea, menorrhagia, &c. The fleshy roots 

 of some species are eaten. 



Natural Order 256. H^modoeace^. — The Blood-Eoot 

 Order. — Character. — Herbs or rarely shrubby plants, with 

 fibrous roots. Leaves usually equitant, ensiform. Perianth 

 superior, tubular, 6-parted, regular, the divisions usually scurfy 

 or woolly on their outside. Stamens 3 or 6, when 3, opposite the 

 inner segments of the perianth; anthers introrse. Ovary in- 

 ferior, 3-celled, or sometimes 1-celled. Fruit dehiscent or 

 indehiscent, covered by the withered perianth. Seeds few or 

 numerous, with cartilaginous albumen, and radicle remote from 

 the hilum. 



Distribution, cf-c. — Natives of America, the Cape of Good 

 Hope, and Australia. Examples of the Genera: — Hsemodorum, 

 Vellozia. There are about 50 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The roots of some species are used as 

 dyeing agents in North America, others are edible, and a few are 

 bitter and astringent. 



Aletris farinosa is remarkable for its bitterness. It is reputed to possess 

 tonic and stomachic properties. 



Hcemodorum. — The roots of several species, as those of II. pan iculatum and 

 H. spicatum, are roasted and eaten by the natives in some parts of Aus- 

 tralia. The roots contain a red colouring matter. 



Lachnanthes tinctoria has a blood-red root, which is used for dyeing in 

 North America. 



Natural Order 257. Taccace^. — The Tacca Order. — Charac- 

 ter. — Perennial herbaceous plants with fleshy roots. Leaves 

 with parallel veins, radical, stalked. Perianth tubular, regular, 

 6-parted, superior. Stamens 6, inserted into the base of the 

 divisions of the perianth, with petaloid filaments hooded at the 

 apex; anthers 2-celled, placed in the concavity below the apex of 

 the filaments. Ovary inferior, 1-celled, with 3 parietal pla- 

 centas projecting more or less into the interior; styles 2>. Fruit 

 baccate. Seeds numerous, with fleshy albumen. 



Distribution, ^'c. — Natives of damp places in the hot parts of 

 India, Africa, and the South Sea Islands. Examples of the 



