70 



LILIACEAE. 



1. NOTHOSCORDUM Knntli. 



Scapose herbs, similar to the onions, but T\ithout alliaceous odor, with 

 membranous-coated bulbs, narrowly linear basal leaves and small yellow or 

 yellowish-green flowers in an erect 2-bracted umbel. Perianth 6-parted, wither- 

 ing-persistent, its segments 1-nerved. Stamens 6, inserted on the bases of the 

 perianth-segments; anther-sacs introrsely dehiscent. Ovary sessile, 3-celled; 

 ovules several in each cavity; style filiform, jointed near the base, but com- 

 monly persistent; stigma small, capitate. Capsule 3-lobed, loculicidal. Seeds 

 angled or flattish, black. [Greek, signifying false garlic] About 10 species. 

 Type species: Northoscordum pulchellum Kunth. 



1. Nothoscordum fragrans (Vent.) 

 Kunth. Large False Garlic. (Fig. 97.) 

 Bulb ovoid. Leaves 3"-8" wide, flat; 

 bracts ovate-acuminate, persistent; umbel 

 6-22-flowered; pedicels filiform, l'-2' long 

 in fruit; flowers 5"-6" long; perianth-seg- 

 ments thin, oblong, or oblong-spatulate, 

 longer than the stamens; capsule obovoid, 

 3 "-4" high, the style as long or slightly 

 shorter. [Allium fragrans Vent.] 



Waste and cultivated grounds, Hamilton 

 Parish and St. George's. Naturalized in the 

 southern United States and Jamaica. Sup- 

 posed to be native of Africa. Flowers in 

 spring and summer. Known as " Wild Onion " 

 in Bermuda, and, presumably, recorded by H. 

 B. Small as Allium sativum. The plant differs 

 from ]V. hived ve (L.) Britton with which it has 

 sometimes been confused, by its usually broader 

 leaves and its obovoid capsule; the capsule of 

 K. bivalve is globose or depressed globose. 



2. AIiOE L. 



Succulent plants with a short or elongated caudex, the thick tufted leaves 

 with spiny-toothed margins, the racemose flowers nodding. Perianth subcylin- 

 dric, the segments connivent or coherent, their tips somewhat spreading. 

 Stamens 6, with slender filaments and oblong anthers. Ovary sessile, 3-angled 

 and 3-r'Blled; style filiform, tipped by the small stigma; ovules many in each 

 cavity of the ovary. Capsule leathery, loculicidally dehiscent. Seeds numerous, 

 black. [Name ancient.] Over 75 species, mostly African, the following 

 typical. 



