304 IRIDE.%. [I is is. 



acuminate. Flower* Sin. diam.; sepals- obovate-lanceolatc, blue-purple, 

 rarely yellow; petals and stigmas spathulata, yellow. Capsule 2-3 in., 

 clavate. Seeds globose, testa fleshy orange-red. DISTRIB. France, Spain, 

 Austria, Italy, Turkey, N. Africa. 



A. GLADI OLUS, L. 



Corms with reticulate fibrous coats. Leaves equitant, ensiform. Scape 

 tall. Flowers usually secuiid, showy, spiked, inclined or horizontal. 

 Perianth irregular, sub- 2-labiate ; tube short, curved, segments obovate. 

 Stamens ascending, on the perianth tube; anthers linear, versatile. Ovary 

 ovoid ; style filiform, stigmas 3 broad undivided. Capsule coriaceous. 

 Seeds compressed, winged, or globose with a fleshy testa. DISTKIB. Europe, 

 W. Asia, chiefly S. African. ETYM. gladiolus, a little sword. 



1. G. commu'nis, L. ; var. illyricus, Koch (sp.1; leaves glaucous, 

 spathes subequal, perianth campanulate. G. imbricatus, Bab. not Reich. 

 Open grounds, New Forest and I. of Wight, rare; fl. June- July. Corm 

 size of a hazel-nut, with many bulbils at its base. Leaves 6-10 in., -^ in. 

 diam. , glau cous, acuminate. Scape 2-3 ft. , leafy. Spike 4-8-flo wered ; spathes 

 subequal, lanceolate, acuminate. Perianth 1-1^ in., curved, crimson-purple ; 

 3 upper segments spathulate ; 3 lower more obovate, paler with strong red- 

 purple veins. Stigmas spathulate, margins involute after flowering. Cap- 

 sule ^ in., clavate. Seeds narrowly winged. DISTRIB. Europe, not N. or W. 

 of the Loire and Rhine, N. Africa. The var. illyricut differs from communis in 

 the more slender fibres of the corm sheath ; broader stigmas not papillose 

 on the margin throughout their length ; and narrower wing of the seed. 



ORDER IV. AMARYL, LIDE^. 



Root bulbous. Leaves radical. Scape naked. Flowers bracteate. 

 Perianth superior, coloured, of 6 lobes or segments in 2 series, with some- 

 times a crown at the mouth of the tube, regular or irregular. Stamens 6, 

 on the perianth-tube or bases of the segments (rarely epigynous), fila- 

 ments free or connate ; anthers versatile, linear or oblong, bursting inwards 

 or by terminal pores. Ovary ovoid or globose, 3-celled ; style filiform or 

 columnar, stigmas 1 or 3 ; ovules many, in 2 series, in the inner angles of 

 the cells, anatropous. Fruit usually capsular, rarely fleshy, 3-celled, 

 loculicidally 3-valved, cells 1- or more-seeded. Seeds turgid or compressed, 

 testa various, albumen fleshy; embryo straight, axile, terete. DKSTUII:. 

 Temp, and trop. ; genera about 70 ; species 400. AFFINITIES. Close 

 with Iridcce, and Lil-iaccas. PROPERTIES. Emetic, narcotic and poisonous. 

 Agave yields textiles, and a fermentable liquor (pulque). 



Mouth of perianth with a circular crown 1. Narcissus. 



Crown 0. Outer perianth-segments largest 2. Galanthus. 



Crown 0. Perianth-segments equal 3. Leucojum. 



1. NARCISSUS, L. 



Scape compressed. Leaves narrow, linear. Flowers with a membranous 

 spathe, solitary or umbellate, large, white or yellow, drooping or inclined. 

 Perianth tubular below ; segments spreading, mouth surmounted with 

 u circular crown. Stamens inserted in the tube, included within the 



