Asparagus,] CLYI. LILIACE/E. (J. D. Hooker.) 319 



much longer than the internodes, pedicels solitary, anthers oblong. Asparagopsis 

 rubricaulis, Kunth ~Enum. v. 87. Ind. Or., Heyne. 



A. SARMENTOSUS, Linn. Sp. PL 314. Ceylon. Trimen in Journ. Linn. Soc.xxiv. 

 ]38, doubtfully refers this to A. gonocladus. 



4. POXiVGONATUXK, Tourn. 



Rooistoclc creeping. Stem leafy above. Leaves alternate opposite or 

 whorled. Flowers in axillary 1- or more-fld. curved peduncles, drooping, 

 white green or purplish ; pedicels jointed at the top ; perianth tubular, 

 mouth 6-cleft, outer lobes subvalvate. Anthers subsessile on or above the 

 middle of the tube, included, dorsifixed. Ovary 3-gonous, style straight, 

 st : gmas 3; cells 2- or more-ovuled. Berry globose or ellipsoid, few- or 

 many-seeded. Seeds subglobose, testa thin. Species about 24, N. temp, 

 regions. 



The species are difficult of limitation, the leaves varying opposite alternate and 

 even whorled in the same species, the flowers in number, .size and colour, and the 

 seeds in size.' P. officinale was by error given by Baker (Journ. Linn. Soc. xiv. 554) 

 as Himalayan. 



* Leaves usually all alternate. 



1. P. mul tiflo rum, Allioni Fl. Pedem. i. 131 ; stem terete, leaves 

 subbifarioas or secund oblong sessile, peduncles 1-5-fld., perianth con- 

 stricted in the middle, filaments puberulous, berry globose. Baker in 

 Journ. Linn. Soc. xiv. 555 ; Desf. in Ann. Mus. ix. 50 ; Redoute Lil. t. 229. 

 P. Govanianum. Roylelll. 380. Convallaria multiflora, Linn. Sp. PI. 315. 

 Eeifhb. Ic. FL Germ. t. 961, 962. C. Govaniana, Wall. Cat. 5137. 



WESTERN TEMPERATE HIMALAYA ; from Kashmir to Kumaon, alt. 6-9000 ft. 

 DISTBIB. Europe, N. Asia, .Japan . 



Stem 2-3 ft., arched. Leaves many, 3-6 in., narrowed at the base, glaucous 

 beneath, subacute. Peduncles -f in., rarely 1-fld. Perianth ^-f in., white with 

 green lobes; nerves within hairy. Stamens inserted above the middle of the tube. 

 Berry % in. diam., blue-black. Seeds few. 



2. P. brevistylum, Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. xiv. 556; stem 

 grooved, leaves shortly petioled oblong acute subcoriaceous, peduncles 

 2-4-fld., perianth cylindric, berry ellipsoid, style very short. 



SIKKIM HIMALAYA, alt. 7-8000 ft., J. D. H., Clarke. 



Stem 12-18 in., green spotted with purple. Leaves many, 2-4 in., strongly 

 nerved, glaucous beneath, cross nervules obscure. Peduncles and pedicels stout, 

 in. Perianth f in., yellow, lobes green. Berry broadly ellipsoid, in. long, 

 many-seeded. Seeds T ' in., ellipsoid or ovoid. 



3. P. nervulosum, BaJcerin Journ. Linn. Soc. xiv. 557; stem flexu- 

 ous, leaves 4-8 in. elliptic caudate-acuminate, nerves strong, peduncles 

 long slender, berries globose 2-4-seeded. 



SIKKIM and BHOTAN HIMALAYA, alt. 9-10,000 ft., Griffith, J. D. H. 

 Stem 3-5 ft., slender. Caudate tip of leaves nearly 1 in. long. Peduncles 

 1-3 in. fld. Seeds globose, i in. diam. 

 ** Leaves most or all opposite. 



4. P. graminifolium, Hook. Ic. PI. t. 833 ; dwarf, leaves crowded 

 membranous linear obtuse, peduncles 2-fld., perianth cylindric, anthers 

 inserted near the mouth of the corolla. Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. xiv. 

 557. 



