154 



IlYPOXIDACEyE. 



[Endogens. 



Order XLV. HYPOXIDACE.E.-Hypoxids. 



IIypoxidea\ R. Br. in Flinders (1814); Aijardh Aph. 104(1823); Ed. prima. 2Jo. 235 (1830); Endl. 

 (kn. lxiii. Mdsrier, p. 3U7. 



Diagnosis. — Narcissal Endorjcns with hcxapetaloideous flowers which are much imbricated, 

 6 stamens with anthers turned inwards, and a radicle remote from the hilum, which 

 i» often strophiolaie. 



Herbaceous plants with a tuberous or fibrous perennial root. Leaves always grow- 

 ing from the root and crown, nowhere else, linear, entire, plaited, of a dry texture. 

 Scapes simple or branched, occasionally very short. Flowers complete, $3 . Perianth 

 petaloid, adherent to the ovary, 6-parted, with the sepals coarser than the petals. 

 Stamens 6, inserted into the base of the segments of the perianth ; filaments distinct ; 

 anthers turned inwards, 2-celled, erect, opening lengthwise. Ovary adherent, 3-celled, 

 with the ceL's opposite the sepals ; style terminal, simple ; stigmas distinct or combined, 

 [crowned by an operculum formed by the base of the style. — Herbert] ; ovules 00, axile, 

 amphitropal. Fruit indehiscent, dry or berried, 1- 2- 3-celled ; seeds 00, roundish, 

 with a lateral hilum, and a beaked strophiole. Embryo in the axis of 

 fleshy albumen, straight, with the radicle remote from the hilum, and 

 directed upwards. 



As far as habit goes, these are very different from the Amaryllids, 

 for their leaves are harsh and hairy, and although dwarf, they have 

 no bulbs. But when we look to the fructification there is but 

 little to connect with the difference in the vegetation. It is true 

 that the sepals are much coarser in texture than the petals, but that 

 is of small importance ; and in truth it is the position of the em- 

 bryo, remote from the hilum, and that alone, by which the Order is to 

 be certainly known ; for the beaked strophiole, which is often found 

 near the hilum, is of small importance. As to the texture of the seed- 

 skin, formerly relied upon in distinguishing some of the Orders of 

 Endogens, experience and reason equally reject it as an ordinal character. 



The whole number of Hypoxids is inconsiderable. What are known inhabit the Cape 

 of Good Hope, New Holland, the East Indies, the tropics of America, and the warmer 

 parts of the United States. 



The roots of Curculigo orchioides are somewhat bitter and aromatic, and are employed 

 in the East Indies in gonorrhoea. The tubers of Curculigo stans are eaten in the 

 Marianne islands ; those of Hypoxis erecta are employed by the aborigines of North 

 America in healing ulcers, and against intermittents. 





Curculigo, Ga-rtn. 



Molineria, Colla. 

 Forbesia, Eckl. 



GENERA. 

 Hypoxis, I. 

 Schnitzleinia, Steud. 



Numbers. Gen. 4. Sp. 60. 



Niobaa, W. 

 1'auridia, Harv. 



Orchidaceee. 

 Position. — Iheinodoracea:. — Hypoxidace,e. — Amaryllidacese. 



Apostasiaceee. 



Fig. CII.— 1 . Seed of Curculigo orchioides ; 2. a perpendicular section of it —Gicrtner. 



