486 



ENDOGENOUS OR MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 



912. Ord, Amaryllidaceffi (the Amaryllis Family). Bulbous plants 

 (sometimes with fibrous roots), bearing showy flowers mostly on 

 scapes. Perianth regular, or nearly so ; the tube adherent to the 

 ovary, and often produced above it, six-parted. Stamens six, dis- 

 tinct, with introrse anthers. Stigma undivided or three-lobed. 

 Fruit a three-celled capsule or berry. Seeds with fleshy albumen. 

 Ex. Amaryllis, Narcissus, Crinum, &c. The bulbs acrid, emet- 

 ic, &c. : those of Hsemanthus (with whose juice the Hottentots 

 poison their arrows) are extremely venomous. The fermented 

 juice of Agave is the intoxicating Pulque of the Mexicans. 



913. Ord, Mdaceae (the Iris Family). Perennial herbs; the 

 flower-stems springing from bulbs, corms, or rhizomas, rarely with 

 fibrous roots, mostly with equitant leaves. Flowers regular or 

 irregular, showy, often springing from a spathe. Perianth with 

 the tube adherent to the three-celled ovary, and usually elongated 



1103 1105 1102 1104 



above it ; the limb six-parted, in two series. Stamens three, dis- 



FIG. 1102. Iris cristala. 1103. The summit of the style, petaloid stigmas, and stamens. 

 1104. Vertical section of the ovary (the equitant leaves cut away) and long tube of the peri- 

 anth. 1105. Cross-section of the pod. 1107. Seed. 1106. Enlarged section of the same, show- 

 ing the embryo, &c. 



