GILLIESIACE^E. 527 



perigyn.) Perianth petaloid, in 6 pieces, which axe sometimes slightly 

 coherent, usually involute in aestivation. Stamens 6 ; anthers extrorse. 

 Ovary 3-celled ; ovules numerous ; style 3-parted ; stigmas 3, un- 

 divided. Fruit a 3-celled capsule, with septicidal or loculicidal dehis- 

 cence. Seeds with a membranous spermoderm ; albumen dense, 

 ileshy ; embryo very minute. Plants with bulbs, tubers (fig. 93), or 

 fibrous roots, having parallel-veined leaves, sheathing at the base. 

 The flowers are sometimes polygamous. They are natives of various 

 parts of the globe, but are most abundant hi northern countries. The 

 order has been divided into three suborders: 1. Veratreas or Melan- 

 thea?, rhizome fibrous, dehiscence of capsule septicidal, flowers fre- 

 quently unisexual. 2. Colchicese, rhizome bulbous, dehiscence sep- 

 ticidal. 3. Uvulariese, rhizome bulbous or fibrous, dehiscence loculi- 

 cidal. There are 30 known genera, and 130 species. Examples 

 Melanthium, Veratrum, Tofieldia; Colchicum; Uvularia. 



1078. The plants of the order have in general poisonous properties. 

 Many are acrid, purgative, and emetic, and some are narcotic. Among 

 the medicinal plants of the order, the most important is Colchicum 

 dutumnale, Meadow Saffron, or Autumn Crocus. The bulb or corm 

 (fig. 93) and the seeds are the officinal parts. They contain a peculiar 

 alkaloid called Colchicia, which seems to be analogous to Veratria. 

 Colchicum in large doses acts as a narcotico-acrid poison. In medi- 

 cinal doses, in the form of extract, vinegar, tincture, and wine, it is 

 used in the cure of gout and rheumatism. It is sedative, cathartic, 

 and diuretic. The rhizome of Veratrum album, the White Hellebore 

 of the Greeks, is an irritant narcotic poison, its properties being due 

 to the presence of an alkaloid called Veratria. It has been used as 

 an emetic and purgative, especially in mania, and it has been adminis- 

 tered as a remedy for gout. Cevadilla is the fruit of Ifelonias or 

 Asagrcea officinalis, as well as of Veratrum Sabaditta. The fruit and 

 seeds contain the alkaloid veratria in combination with a peculiar 

 fatty acid called cevadic or sabadillic acid. Cevadilla is used in cases 

 of neuralgia and rheumatism. 



1079. Order 197. Giiliesiaeew, the Gilliesia Family. (Mono- 

 perigyn.} Perianth 6-parted, sometimes 5-parted by cohesion of two 

 of the pieces, in a double row; the outer, petaloid and herbaceous; the 

 inner, smaller, and more coloured ; aestivation twisted. Stamens in a 

 double series ; outer whorl sterile, in the form of a 6-toothed urceolate 

 body, or of scale-like bodies, one of which forms a sort of labellum ; 

 inner whorl of six stamens, of which three are sometimes sterile. 

 Ovary superior, 3-celled ; style 1 ; stigma simple. Fruit a 3-celled, 

 3-valved capsule, with loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds numerous, at- 

 tached to the axis ; spermoderm black and brittle ; embryo curved 

 in the midst of fleshy albumen. Herbs with tunicated bulbs, grass- 

 like leaves, and umbellate spathaceous flowers. Natives of Chili. Their 



