14 POPULAR SKETCH OF 



in various warm parts of the world. Lindley mentions 13 genera, and 50 species. The 

 roots of these plants supply a red dye. 



192. Amaryllidacese, AMARYLLIDS. Generally bulbous plants, sometimes with 

 fibrous roots. Natives chiefly of the Cape of Good Hope. Lindley notices 68 genera, 

 and 400 species, and he divides them into four sub-orders: 1. Amarylleae, bulbs 

 without a coronet in the flower. 2. Narcisseae, bulbs, with a coronet. 3. Alstrome- 

 riete, fibrous rooted, sepals different in form from the petals. 4. Agaveae, fibrous 

 rooted, sepals and petals alike. The bulbs ef many of these plants are poisonous; 

 some are emetic, and others yield a spirit, The tough fibres of some species, as the 

 American Aloe (Fig. 110), are used for flax. The juice of this plant yields also an 

 intoxicating drink. 



193. Ilypoxidacese, HYPOXIDS. Herbaceous and frequently stemless plants, with 

 tuberous and fibrous roots. Natives of warm countries. Some have bitter roots, 

 others have edible tubers. Lindley mentions 4 genera, and 60 species. 



194. BromeliaceaB, BROMEL-WORTS or PINE- APPLES. Stemless or short- stemmed 

 plants of the warm parts of America chiefly. These plants are more or less epiphytic, 

 that is, are able to grow without any direct attachment to the soil. The fruit of 

 Ananassa is the Pine-apple or Ananus, well known for its sweetness and fine flavour. 

 In its wild state, however, it is excessively acid (Figs 111 and 112). There are 23 

 genera, and 170 species. 



195. Liliacese, LILY-WORTS. Herbaceous plants, shrubs, or trees, with bulbs, tubers, 

 rhizomes or fibrous roots. They are found both in temperate and tropical countries. 

 There are, according to Lindley, 133 genera, and 1.200 species. He divides the order 

 into twelve sub-orders, as follows : 1. Tulipeae, Tulip tribe; 2. Herrnerocallidea?, or Day- 

 lily tribe; 3. Aloinea3, or Aloes; 4. Scillese, or Squills; 5. Conantherea?; 6. Anthericeas; 

 7. Aphyllan these; 8. Wachendorflfeae; 9. Asparageas; 10. Aspidistreas; 11. Ophiopogcneae; 

 12. Convallarieas. Many of these plants are showy garden flowers, as Tulips, Lilies, 

 &c.; others are used medicinally, as Squill, Aloes, &c. Some yield valuable fibres, as 

 Phormium tenax, New Zealand Flax. Drucccna Daruco, and other species, supply n 

 resinous matter called Dragon's-blood. Xanthorrcea hastilis, the Grass-tree of Australia, 

 which gives a peculiar feature to the vegetation of that region, yields a yellow gum. 

 The base of the inner leaves of some Grass-trees is also used as food. (Figs. 113, 

 114, and 115). 



196. MelanthaC68B, MELANTHS, or COLCHICUMS. Bulbous, tuberous, or fibrous- 

 rooted plants, extremely variable in appearance. Found in various parts of the world, 

 but most abundant in northern countries. There are 30 known genera, and 130 species. 

 These plants are mostly poisonous; some, however, have valuable medicinal qualities, 

 and are employed in the cure of gout and rheumatism. 



197. Gilliesiaceae, GILLIESIADS. Herbaceous plants, with bulbs. Natives of Chili. 

 Their properties are unknown. There are 2 genera, and 5 species. 



198. Pontederiaceae. PONTEDERADS. Aquatic or marsh plants, without important 

 properties. They are Ibund in America, the East Indies, and Africa. 6 genera, and 

 30 species. 



199. Xyridacese, XYRIDS. Herbaceous, sedgy plants, with fibrous roots. Natives 

 chiefly of tropical countries, and without important properties. 6 genera, and 70 species. 



200. Juncacese, BUSHES. Herbaceous plants, of the colder regions of the globe. 

 Many species are used in the manufacture of mats, bottoms of chairs, &c. There are 

 14 genera, and 200 species. 



201. Palmse, PALMS. Arborescent plants, with simple, rarely -branched trunks, 

 marked with the scars of the leaves. Natives of the tropics chiefly, and imparting 

 to them much of their botanical physiognomy. " The race of plants to which the 

 name of Palms has been assigned is, no doubt," says Dr. Lindley, " the most interest- 

 ing in the vegetable kingdom, if we consider the majestic aspect of their towering 

 stems, crowned by a still more gigantic foliage; the character of grandeur which 

 they impress upon the landscape of the countries they inhabit, their immense value 

 to mankind, as affording food and raiment, and numerous objects of economical im- 

 portance; or, finally, the prodigious development of those organs by which their race 

 is to be propagated." There are 73 known genera, and 400 species, but the numbers 

 are probably much greater. They have been divided into the following tribes: 

 1. Arecinea3, the Betel-nut tribe; 2. Lepidocaryinae, the Sago tribe; 3 Borassina?, the 

 Palmyra tribe; 4. Coryphinaa, the Talipot and Date tribe; 5. Coccinae, the Cocoa-nut 

 tribe. The properties of these plants are very various. In the countries where they 

 grow they supply food, and are used for forming habitations. Many supply oil, wax, 

 starchy matter, and sugar, which, fermented, forms an intoxicating beverage. Their 

 fibres also furnish materials for ropes, cordage, and weaving. Some species of 

 Calamus furnish canes more than 500 feet in length, which are used as cables. Tliytde- 

 phas macrccarpa,tlie Ivory Palm, supplies a hard white substance called Vegetable 



