MONOCOTYLEDONS 



267 







The order is a large one, and most of the species occur 

 in dry climates, tropical or sub-tropical. They hibernate 

 during the unfavourable season by means of their bulbs or 

 rhizomes. Many are cultivated for their large, showy 

 flowers : e. g. the Daffodil (Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus) 

 with a single flower, Jonquil (Narcissus Jonquilla) with 

 a cymose umbel of flowers, Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis), 

 Snowflake (Leucojum), 

 Agave, Alstroemeria, 

 Amaryllis, Crinum, and 

 Eucharis. 



Order Iridaceae. Per- 

 ennial herbs, hiber- 

 nating by means of 

 rhizomes, corms or 

 bulbs. Flowers regu- 

 lar or zygomorphic ; 

 perianth petaloid of 

 six lobes in two whorls 

 united to form a 

 tube. Stamens three. 

 Carpels three, syncar- 

 pous ; ovary inferior, 

 three-celled with in- 

 definite ovules ; style branched, often petaloid ; fruit 

 a capsule. Floral formula p 3 + 3. A 3 + . G (3), 

 (Fig. 178). 

 Many of the species are adapted to a life in countries 

 subject to considerable dry periods ; and many of them 

 occur in South Africa, Tropical America, and the Medi- 

 terranean region. They include a number of garden 

 favourites, e. g. Crocus (Figs. 85 and 135), Iris (Fig. 136), 

 Ixia, Gladiolus, Freesia, and Tritoma. Very few occur in 

 Britain ; the most familiar are the Yellow Flag (Iris Pseud- 



Fig. 178. Floral Diagram of 

 Iris. br, bract. 



