MONOCOTYLEDONES 201 



a septicidal capsule. This tribe forms tJie order Melanthacece 

 or Colchicacece of this volume. 

 Tribe 3. AsparagecE. — Fruit baccate. Illustrative Genera : — 

 Asparagus, Linn. ; Convallaria, Linn. 



By Bentham and Hooher this order has been divided into 

 20 tribes arranged in 3 series, and includes the ColchicacecF, 

 SmilacecB, and PhilesiacecB of this volume. 



Distribution and Numbers. — They are widely distributed 

 throughout the temperate, warm, and tropical regions of the 

 globe. There are over 1,360 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order frequently 

 possess important properties, but there is no great uniformity 

 in them. Some are purgative ; others emetic, diuretic, dia- 

 phoretic, stimulant, acrid, &c. Several jdeld astringent sub- 

 stances, and man}' produce valuable fibres. The bulbs, young 

 shoots, roots, and seeds of others are highly esteemed, and 

 largely consumed as articles of food and condiments. 



Order 16. Philesiace.e, the Philesia Order. — Diagnosis, 

 do. — The plants of this order are closely allied to the Kox- 

 burghiaceae, from which, however, they are readily distinguished 

 by their hexamerous perianth and androecium, perigjnous 

 stamens, parietal placentation, long style, and semi-anatropous 

 ovules. They are natives of Chili. There are 2 genera — - 

 Philesia, Commers. ; and Lapageria. B. et P. — and 2 species. 

 In their properties they are said to resemble Sarsaparilla. (See 

 Smilax.) This order is included in Liliacece by Bentham 

 and HooTier. 



Order 17. Colchicacece, or Melanthace.e. — The Colchicum 

 Order. — Character. — Herbs, with bulbs, corms, tubers, or 

 fibrous roots. Floivers regular, usually hermaphrodite, or rarely 

 unisexual. Perianth inferior, white, green, or purple, 6-partite 

 or 6-leaved. Stamens 6, anthers extrorse. Ovary superior or 

 nearly so, 3-celled, with axile placentation ; style 3-partite ; 

 stigmas 3. Fruit 3-celled, 3-valved, with usually septicidal 

 dehiscence. Seeds numerous; embryo minute, in fleshy al- 

 bumen. 



By Bentham and Hooker the plants of this order {see 

 Liliaceai) are noiu placed, according to the vieivs of Baiter, in 

 the Liliacece. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or 

 rarely unisexual. Perianth inferior, 6-partite or 6-leaved. 

 Stamens 6 ; anthers extrorse. Ovarj' superior ; style 3-partite. 



