Pancratium.'] amaryllide^. 367 



filaments. Ovules several in each cell of the ovary. Capsule opening loouli- 

 cidally in 3 valves. — J3ulbous herbs, with the habit of Critium, and flowers 

 usually large and white. 



A small genus, the species chiefly maritime, and limited to the Old ^Vol•Kl if the Auicrican 

 Hymenocallis be really to be separated from it. 



1. P. biflorum, Roxh. FL. Ind. ii. 125. Leaves several, 1 to 1 ^ ft. long, 

 1 to 2 in. broad. Scape short, 2- or 3-flowere(l, with a spatha of 2 or 3 

 lanceolate bracts. Perianth-tube slender, 4 to 5 in. long. Segments narrow- 

 linear, nearly as long. Staminal cup about | as long, sinuately toothed be- 

 tween the filaments, which are at least as long as the cup. 



On the seacoast, Champion, Hance. Scarce iu India (Roxburgh). The Hongkong speci- 

 mens agree very well with Roxburgh's description and unpublished drawing of P. bijlorum, 

 but not with the figure of P. verecimdum, Bot. Reg. t. 413, to which Herbert refers it. 



Order CXV. DIOSCORIDE^. 



Flowers unisexual, usually dicecious. Perianth of 6 lobes or divisions. 

 Stamens 6 or 3, inserted on the perianth and shorter than its lobes. Anthers 

 2-celled. Ovary inferior, 3-celled, with 2 pendulous ovules in each cell. 

 Stigmas 3, entire or 2-cleft, on a single or distinct styles or sessile. Fruit a 

 beiTyor 3-angled capsule. Seeds albuminous, with a minute embryo. — Herbs, 

 usually twining, sometimes woody at the base. Leaves with digitate or parallel 

 nerves and reticulate veins, sometimes compound. Flowers small, in axillai-y 

 spikes or racemes, simple or paniculate. 



An Order of few genera, dispersed over the greater part of the globe. 



1. DIOSCOREA, Linn. 



(Helmia, KtintJi.) 



Flowers dioecious. Capsule 3-angled or 3-lobed, opening loculicidally at 

 the angles, often leaving the nerve-like edge fi*ee. Seeds winged. — Stems 

 twining. 



A large tropical or subtropical genus, common to the New and the Old M'orld. 



Perianth-segments orbicular. Capsule broader than long. Seeds winged 

 aU round. (Leaves mostly opposite.) 



Leaves oval-oblong or lanceolate \. D. opposiiifolia. 



Leaves broadly cordate ..2.1). Batatai. 



Perianth-segments nan'ow. Capsule longer than broad. Seeds winged 



at the base 3. 2). satii-a. 



1. D. oppositifolia, Li7i7i. ; Roxb. FL Ind. iii. 804 ; TTit/Z/f, Ic.t.S\S. 

 A glabrous twiner. Khizome tuberous. Leaves stalked, mostly opposite, 

 from oval-oblong to lanceolate, 2 to 3 in. long, 3- to 7-nen'ed. Male spikes 

 when fully out 1 to 1^ in. long, in axillary clusters or panicles. ^ Flowers 

 distant, sessile. Perianth-segments orbicular, about 1 line long, slightly im- 

 bricate in 2 series. Anthers 6, nearly sessile, on a somewhat thickened disk, 

 without any mdiment of the ovary. Female racemes simple, with few dis- 

 tant flowers. Capsule of 3 flat wing-like romided lobes, each near ^ in. 

 broad, the axis rather longer. Seeds flat, winged all round. 



Hongkong, Hance, Wriyht. Iu Ceylou, the Indian Peninsula, Kliasia, and Silhct. 



