724 BOTANY PART 11 



many seeds. Luzula, with flat leaves and three-seeded fruits, one of the earliest 

 spring-flowering plants. 



Family 2. Liliaeeae. Typical flower, with coloured, conspicuous 

 perianth. Entomophilous. Ovary superior. The fruits are septicidal 



FIG. 800. Aloe speciosa and Aloe ferox. With, in the latter, branched inflorescences. 

 (After MARLOTH.) 



or loculicidal capsules, or berries. Seeds numerous. Endosperm 

 horny or fleshy. 



The majority of the Liliaeeae are perennial herbs with bulbs, tubers, or rhizomes. 

 They mainly inhabit the warm temperate regions. Colchicum autumnale, the 

 Autumn Crocus (Fig. 797), is a perennial herb growing in meadows. If a plant is 

 examined in autumn at the time of flowering, the corm (&), to the base of which is 

 attached the lateral shoot bearing the flowers, will be seen to be enclosed in a 

 brown envelope. The lateral flowering shoot bears at its base three sheathing 



