146 NARCISSALES. [Endogens. 



Alliance XI. NARCISSALES.— Tee, Narcissal Alliance. 



DikQW$lS.—E$igynow petaloid Endogens, with symmetrical flowers, 3 or 6 stamens, and 



albuminous seeds. 



From the Hydral Alliance and its higher forms, such as the Water Soldiers (Stra- 

 tiotes), we pass, by an easy transition, to the Narcissals, which may be regarded as 

 hermaphrodite Hydrals growing on dry land, and having albumen in their seeds. 

 This transition is effected by the Bromelworts (Bromeliacese), which have quite the 

 same habit, and in addition a tripetaloid flower. This point being settled, the remain- 

 der of the Alliance consists of plants which might be regarded as Lilials, if their ovary 

 were not adherent ; for it is difficult to separate the Irids from Melanths or the 

 Amaryllids from Lilyworts, by any other precise character. 



The principal difficulty in limiting this Alliance arises out of the Bromelworts, some 

 of whose genera have the ovary absolutely free : but such plants are not at all like any 

 other part of the system, and if their calyx is free, it is so fleshy or permanent as to 

 have all the external appearance of being adherent to the ovary. 



While however there is, as has been stated, a gentle passage from Hydrals into Narcis- 

 sals, we find, on the other hand, the Aral Alliance provided here with its representative in 

 the form of the Taccads, which have much the habit of some Arads, and nevertheless 

 an adherent ovary and almost tripetaloideous flower. These plants have also a very- 

 evident resemblance to Orontiacese. 



Natural Orders of Narcissals. 

 Flowers tripetaloideous, 6-lcavcd, imbricated. Albumen mealy . 42. Bromeliace.^. 

 Flowers half tripetaloideous, tubular. Albumen fleshy . . . . 43. Taccace^e. 



Flowers hexapetaloidcous, tubular, scarcely imbricated. Stamens 3, "| 



iiji/iosite the petals, or 6; anthers turned inwards. Radicle W4. H.emodorace.*:. 



remote from the hilum, which is naked J 



Flowers Jir.ift pi taloiilKixs, much imbricated. Stamens 6; anthers') 



turned inwards. Radicle remote from the hilum, which is often- )■ 45. Hypoxidace.e. 



strophiolatc, J 



Flowers kexapetaloideous, much imbricated. Stamens (i, or more; \ ,„ » p Y rMn»rFf 

 anthers tu. nu d inwards. Radicle next the hilum J 



Flowers hexapetaloidcous. Stamens 3, opposite the sepals ; anthers 1 , - T 



turned outwards j-4,. jrtdace.f. 



