LIL1ACEM. 257 



panicles or fascicles ; bracts usually small and scarious, or epathe- 

 like when the flowers are in umbels. Perianth herbaceous or peta- 

 loid, usually 6-merous in 2 series, rarely, 4- or 8- or 10-merous, 

 imbriacte or rarely valvate in bud. Stamens 6, rarely 3 or fewer, 

 hypgynous or adnate to the perianth, filaments free or connate ; 

 anthers oblong or linear, often dorsifixed. Ovary 3-celled, usually 

 simple, often long, rarely short on none or with 3 styles ; ovules 2 

 or more, on the inner angles of the cells, anatropous rarely orttho 

 thropous. Fruit a capsule or berry, usually 3-celled. Seeds 1 or 

 more, globose or flattened ; embryo small, terete, surrounded by 

 the horny or fleshy albumen. Species about 2,500, in all climates 

 and countries. 



Shrubs with perennial stems above ground ; 

 fruit berry-like : 



Stems climbing or straggling ; leaves re- 

 placed by linear or needle-shaped scales 

 (cladodes) . . . . . .1. ASPARAGUS. 



Stems leafy, usually climbing ; leaves 3-5- 



nerved, reticulate-veined . . .2. SMILAX. 



Herbs with annual stems or scapes rising 

 usually from underground perennial root- 

 stocks corms or bulbs, rarely (in Asphoddus] 

 the plant wholly annual : 



Underground perennial stems large in pro- 

 portion to the roots : 



Aerial annual stem climbing, leafy ; 

 leaves broad, with tendril-like tips ; 

 perianth lar ;e, showy ; rootstock tuber- 

 iike, naked 3. GLORIOSA. 



Aerial annual stems or scapes erect ; 

 leaves narrow ; rootstock a globose 

 coated corm or bulb : 



Perennial stem a solid corm covered 

 with brown sheaths ; annual stem 

 leafy ; flowers solitary or corymbose 4. IPHIGENIA, 



Perennial stem a tunic ated bulb ; 

 annual scape simple, naked ; leaves 

 radical ; flowers racemose : 



Seeds sub-globose ; perianth st3llate 5. SCILLA, 



