LILIES. 



60. The FAMILY OF LILIA'CE^E is also placed in the class 

 of Monoperigy'nia ; it is composed of plants with bulbous or 

 fibrous roots, and a stem (or shaft) 



generally naked ; the leaves are sessile 

 or sheathing ; several species of this 

 family are remarkable from having 

 flowers with a coloured calyx, such 

 as the lilies, tulips, hyacinths, tuberoses, 

 imperials, &c. 



61. The FAMILY OF AMARY'LLID^E 

 or NARCI'SSE^: (Jig. 141), and the 

 family of IRI'DE^E belong on the con- 

 trary to the Mono-epigy'nia : among the 

 first is the common Narcissus (Jig' 

 141), the Agave americana, and among 

 the second the Iris florentina, which 

 furnishes orris root, and the Crocus 

 sativus, which has long, orange-coloured 

 stigmas, which, when dried, form saf- 

 fron. The plants of the family of 

 Iri'dea? are herbaceous under shrubs, 

 with fibrous or bulbous roots ; gene- 

 rally their flowers are large, beautiful, 



and variegated in different colours. Fig. 141. NARCISSUS. 



DICOTYLE'DONOUS PLANTS. 



" . V 



62. The plants of this division are chiefly characterized : 



1st. By the existence of an embryo with two cotyledons; 

 sometimes however we find three, or even more. 



2d. By the internal organization of the stem, all parts of 

 which are arranged in concentric layers, the growth of which is 

 ex'ogenous. 



3d. By the arrangement of the leaves, the nerves of which 

 are ramified. 



4th. By the very frequent presence of both a calyx and a 

 corolla, &c. 



63. They are divided into four groups; the Apeta'lese, Mono- 

 peta'leae, Polypeta'lese, and Dicli'nese. 



60. What are the characters of the Lilia'ceae ? 



61. To what family does the common narcissus belong? What is orris 

 root ? What is saffron ? 



62. What are the chief characters of the dicotyledons ? 



63. How is the division of dicotyledons divided ? 



