218 



TRILLIACEjE. 



f DlCTYOGENS. 





Order LXXI. TRILLIACEjE.— Parids. 



Trilliacese, DC. Propr. Med. 294. (1816); A. Gray, Ann. Lye. N. York, 4. 106.— Parides, Link Handb. 

 1. 277. (1829) ; Endl. Gen. p. 153 ; Meisn. Gen. p. 403. 



Diagnosis. — Dictyogens with bisexual tripetaloideous flowers, half consolidated carpels and 



axile placenta. 



Simple-stemmed herbaceous plants with tubers or rhizomes, and verticillate mem- 

 branous netted leaves. Flowers large, terminal, 

 solitary, Q. Sepals 3, herbaceous. Petals 3, 

 much larger, coloured, or herbaceous. Sometimes 

 one-fourth is added to their parts. Stamens 6-10 ; 

 filaments subulate ; anthers linear, with cells on their 

 edges, and the connective extended beyond them. 

 Ovary free, 3- 5-celled ; styles as many, distinct ; 

 stigmas inconspicuous; ovules 00, in 2 rows, anatropal, 

 ascending. Fruit succulent, 3- 5-celled. Seeds 00, 

 with a leathery brownish skin ; embryo minute, in 

 fleshy albumen. 



These plants have been generally included in Sar- 

 saparillas, from which they differ somewhat as Spider- 

 worts from Lilies. 



They are found in thickets in the temperate parts of 

 Europe, Asia, and North America. 



Paris quadrifolia is reckoned a narcotic acrid poison. 

 The root of Medeola virginica is emetic and diuretic. 

 Trillium cernuum and sessile have rhizomes that are 

 violently emetic, and their fruit is suspicious ; the 3 

 juice of the berries mixed with alum gives a blue 

 colouring matter. 



GENERA. 



Paris, Linn. 

 Demidovia, Hoffm. 

 Trillium, Mill. 



Phyllantherum, Rafin . 



Delostiyls, Raftn. 

 ? Medeola, Gronov. 



Gyromia, Nutt. 



Numbers. Gen. 4. Sp. 30. 



Fig. CXLIX. 



Trillidium, Kth. 



? Streptolirion,.R7(7?/\ 



Melanthaccee. 

 Position.— Smilacete.— Trilliace^;.— Roxburghiaceee. 

 Commelynacew. 



Fig. CXLIX.— Paris quadrifolia. 1. A transverse section of ail ovary; 2. perpendicular section of 

 the ripe fruit ; 3. longitudinal section of a seed ; 4. an anther. 



