SMILACE^E. ASPHODELE.E. 213 



52. SMILACEJE. 



Flowers hermaphrodite or dioecious. Perianth single, 

 6-8-parted, inferior. Stamens 6, placed upon or near 

 the base of the perianth, but rarely hypogynous. Ovarium 

 three-celled, the cells one or many ovuled. Style sim- 

 ple, or three -parted . Fruit baccate. Seeds with a mem- 

 branous testa; albumen fleshy and cartilaginous, and 

 the radicle mostly distant from the hilum. 



Herbs or undershrubs, often with a tendency to twine, 

 the leaves having a reticulated venation. Allied to the 

 next tribe Asphodelese. 



Geographical Relations. Sparsely though scattered 

 generally over the globe. 



Properties. Demulcent, though sometimes acrid. 



Officinal Plant. 

 Smilax sarza. 



53. ASPHODELE.E. 



Perianth single with 6 divisions. Stamens 6, hypogy- 

 nous, 3 of them opposite the pieces of the perianth and 

 differing from the others, or abortive. Ovarium superior, 

 3 -celled ; style single ; stigma entire. Fruit capsular, 

 mostly 3-celled, 3-valved, with a loculicidal dehiscence. 

 Seeds varying in number, with black brittle crustaceous 

 testa ; embryo included within fleshy albumen. 



Herbaceous plants, sometimes trees, the roots fibrous 

 or fascicled, or the plant having bulbs. Peduncles arti- 

 culated in the middle. Nearly related to Smilaceae. 



