396 1RIDE.E. [Uomulf.a. 



Ovary 3 -celled ; style simple, stigmas 3 often dilated, simple or divided ; 

 ovules very many, in the inner angles of the cells, anatropous. Capsule 

 3-gonous, 3-celled, loculicidally 3-valved. Seeds many, testa coriaceous 

 or thin, albumen horny or fleshy ; embryo terete, short, cylindric. — 

 Distrib. Chiefly extra-tropical ; genera about 57 ; species 700. — Af- 

 finities. With Amaryllidece and Orchidece. — Properties. Purgative 

 and diuretic. 



Segments of perianth nearly equal. 



Perianth-tube short. Stigmas 3, 2-partite 1. Romulea. 



Perianth-tube short. Stigmas 3> entire 2. Sisyrinchium. 



Perianth-tube long ...2*. Crocus. 



Segments of perianth unequal. 



Perianth regular 3. Iris. 



Perianth irregular , 4. Gladiolus. 



1. ROMULEA, Maratti. 



Corm sheathed. Leaves radical, slender, linear. Scape simple or 

 branched. Perianth regular ; tube very short ; segments equal, suberect, 

 tips recurved. Stamens on the throat of the perianth, filaments free 

 hairy ; anthers basifixed. Ovary short, 3-gonous ; stigmas linear 2-cleft. 

 Capsule ovoid, 3-lobed. Seeds subglobose, testa coriaceous. — Distriij. 

 Chiefly S. Africa ; species 54. — Etym. Romulus, the founder of Rome. 



R. Columns, Scb. and Maur. ; leaves^wiry. Trichone'ma Colum'ntv, 



Reichb. ; T. Bulboco'diam, Sin. 



Sandy pastures, Dawlish ; Channel Islands ; fl. March-May. — Corm size of a 

 pea, ovoid ; sheaths brown, shining. Leaves 2-4 in., recurved, subcyliudric, 

 grooved above. Scape very short, 1-3-fld. ; spathe longer than the perianth- 

 tube ; pedicels curved in fruit. Perianth-segments f-f in., subacute, green- 

 ish outside, whitish inside, veins purple, claw yellow. Capsule small. — 

 Distrib. W. France, Si Europe, N. Africa. 



2. SISYRINCHIUM, L. BLUE-EYED GRASS. 



Root of rigid fibres. Leaves radical, linear, equitant. Scapes usually 

 2-edged. Flowers umbellate. Perianth regular, tube very short ; seg- 

 ments equal, spreading or suberect. Stamens on the throat of the 

 perianth, free or connate at the base ; anthers basifixed. Ovary short, 

 3-gonous ; style short, stigmas 3 filiform involute. Capsule subglobose, 

 coriaceous. Seeds subglobose or angled, testa hard. — Distrib. N. and 

 S. America ; species 50. — Etym. obscure. 



S. angustifo'lium, Miller; bracts suberect lanceolate. S. Bcrmu- 



dia'na, var. a, L. 



Bogs, G.ilway and Kerry ; fl. July'- Aug. —Leaves 3-5. in., J in. broad, ensiform. 

 Scape 6-18 in., flattened, wing narrow. Bracts shorter than the 1-4 flowers, 

 which are § in. diam. Perianth-segments blue inside, oblong, retuse, caudate. 



