204 MONOCOTYLEDONS LILIACE^B IRIDACE^E DIAGRAM 17 



The aloe is an African plant, and largely cultivated in tlie 

 West Indies, which yields a resin which is used in medicine as a 

 purgative, and its leaves are very large, and yield ^ a textile 

 substance composed of very coarse, but very strong threads : 

 ropes, and cordage are made of it. 



The leek, garlic, onion and slialot have flowers arranged in an 

 umbel, as in the Umbelliferae, but the stalk is only divided once. 

 The flower, as in the lily, has six divisions and six stamens. In 

 all these plants it is either the bulb or else the base of the leaves 

 which is used for flavouring. 



The name of the family Liliacese is derived from the Latin name 

 of the lily. 



FAMILY IKIDACEA 



The Iridacea3 include odoriferous flowers, lite faeflag and the 

 saffron. Like the Liliacese, the flowers of this small family have 

 a beautiful corolla, and no calyx. They have six divisions ; 

 three outer and three inner. There are only 

 three stamens. In the flag, they are hidden 

 by the pistil, and terminated by three very 

 large divisions which at first appear like petals. 

 One important difference between the iridacese 

 and the liliacese is that the flower of the 

 former is inserted on the ovary, instead of being 

 inserted below it. 



The pistils of the saffron flower are gathered 

 to make a red colour. They are also used in 

 confectionery and are thought to improve the 

 health of caged birds when put into their 

 drinking water. They are dried and powdered 

 before being used. They have a very penetrating odour which 

 can cause illness, and that of the flag is also sometimes attended 

 with very serious effects. The root of the flag is odoriferous, 

 and is used after being powdered. 



Saffron. 



