162 AMOMALES. [Endogens. 



Alliance XII. AMOMALES.— The Amomal Alliance. 



Diagnosis. — Epirjynous petaloid Endogens, with unsymmetriced flowers, from 1 to 5 

 stamens, some of -which arc abortive, and cdbuminous seeds. 



In the Narcissal Alliance, the series was terminated by the Irids, many of whose 

 genera have a singularly irregular corolla : as, for example, Babiana ; there was, how- 

 ever, even in these last, an exact symmetry in the number of parts of which the flowers 

 consist. In this Alliance that symmetry is wholly lost, the number of perfect stamens, 

 as represented by anthers, being reduced to one, or even half a one, and not exceeding 

 five in any instance. At the same time the development of the foliage takes a new 

 direction. In the majority of Narcissals the leaves are absolutely sword-shaped, and 

 their veins consequently run in parallel lines ; and even when, as sometimes happens, 

 their leaves become widened, the veins still converge at the point, But in the Amomal 

 Alliance the veins always diverge ; the result of which is a foliage of quite another cha- 

 racter, to which, among Endogens, some Lilyworts offer the only resemblance. When 

 such leaves acquire a large size, they are frequently split into lateral ribands. 



Natural Orders of Amomals. 



Stamens more than 1 ; {anthers 2-celled, no vitcllus) 48. Musace.e. 



Stamen but 1 ; anther 2-celled, embryo in a ritellus 49. Zingiberace*. 



Stamen but 1 ; anther 1 -celled {halved), no ritellus />0. Marantacf.jK. 



For original observations upon the development of these plants the reader is 

 referred to Cruger in Henfrey and Huxley's Scientific Memoirs, vol. i. p. 155. 





