123 



ORDER CXXXIT. LILIACEJE. ORDER OXXXVII. \YIMDACEfi. 



GROUP VI. 



ORDER CXXXII. Liliacese. 



H.-rbs, arising from bulbs or tubers, rarely with fibrous or 

 fascicled root*. Leaves simple, sheathing, or clasping at base. 

 i-s regular, perfect, often showy. Perianth with 6, rarely 

 4, equal, usually colored segments, free from the ovary. Stamens 

 6, rarely 4, inserted on the segment* of the perianth. Anthers in- 

 trorse. Ovary 8-ccllcd. Styles united into 1. Stigma simple, 

 or 3-lobed. Fruit eapeular, with several, or many seeds in each 

 cell 



A Urge nd widely-spread family containing many bountiful tnd splendid 

 ornamental plants. Their bulbs Uo are wmcUmes esculent, u In the Onion 

 and Oarilc (Alliuml. Sometimes a bitter principle, with which the whole 

 order abounds to greater or IMS extent, Is developed so much as to render the 



Flg.8. 



bnlbs valuable In medicine, as In the Squill (SciUa). From the concrete juice 

 ' f different species of Aloe, we have the drug which Is known by their name. 

 The Lily (illium). Kg, 86, Day Lily (/IcmerotaUU), the Lily of the Valley 

 (flonvauarla\ and the Hyacinth (llyncinthiu'), are examples of this truly 

 noble order. 



ORDER CXXXIII. Pontederiacese. 



Aquatic herbs. Flowers solitary, or spicate, arising from a 

 spathe, or from a fissure in the petiole. Perianth tubular, 6-cleft, 

 persistent ami withering, colored, often irregular. Stamens 8, 

 inserted on the throat <>f tin' perianth ; or 6, and variously at- 

 tached to the perianth. Ovary 1 3-celled. Style 1. Stigma 1. 

 Capsule 3-valved, 1 or many-seeded. 



An order of aquatic plants, often with showy flowers. Fontederla (Picker- 

 rt-wwrf), Is an example. 



ORDER CXXXIV. Melauthacese. 



Perennial herbs, arising from bulbs or rhizomas, corms, or fas- 

 ciculated roots. Stem dimple, often a mere scape. Flowers per- 

 fect, or, by abortion, polvgamoun. IVrianth regular, 6-prted ; 

 the divisions in 2 series, distinct, ur united at base. Stamens 6. 

 Anthers extrone. Ovary 3-cclled, each cell with 3 or more 

 ovule*. Styles, or stigmas, 3, distinct Fruit a 3-cellcd berry, 

 or capsule. 



A small order, dMIngnlihed by Its violently acrid and poisonous qualities. 

 IViM propertlM are peculiarly developed In Colcbleum ( Jr>-j</oie-.4i/fron), 

 and Vorslrurn, botii of which ire valuable In medicine. On* specie- 

 tram U our most crnnmnn native crampl'- 



ORDER C X X X V.^Juncacese. 



Herbaceous plants, generally coarse and grass-like, often leaf- 

 less. Flowers usually greenish, small, dry, glun: ymose 

 clusters. Leaves fistular, or else flat, often channelled, sometimes 

 none. Perianth regular, in 2 series of 3 segments in 

 mens 6, or 3. Ovary 3-ccllcd, or 1-ccllcd, because the placenta 

 do not reach the axis. Styles united into 1. Stigmas : 

 3-valved, 



Fig. 87 



Juncm the Rash, one species of which Is represented In fig. 87, l an exam- 

 ple of this family of Rushes. 



GROUP VII. 

 ORDER CXXXVI. Commelynacee. 



JIerl with flat, narrow leaven, usually sheathing at base. 

 IVriiinth with po<rmentM in 2 series, the outer 3 herbaceous 

 sepals, tin- in; ! petals. Stamens 6, or fewer. Anther* 



with 2 pcparntod cells. Filaments often covered with joint. <! 

 hairs. Ovary 2 3-cclled. Styles united into 1. Stigma 1. 

 Fruit a 2 8-ccllcd, few-seeded capsule, opening by loculicidal 

 dehisccncc. 



A small and unimportant order, containing many ornamental plants. Tra- 

 descanua (S/Menrort), Is a well-known example. 



ORDER CXXXVII. Xyridaceae. 



Sedge-like herbs. Leaves linear, or eosifonn. Klowcrs in 

 Bummit of a vonpe. Perianth of 6 segments, in 2 

 series. Sepals 3, glumaccou?, caducous. Petals 3, unui<'ii]:it<>, 

 nnito.l inl" ft tnln' l">l<nv. Stnmens 6, inserted on the corolla, S 



