DIOSCOREACE-E 577 



ovate tuber, generally if not always rootless during the earlier stages 

 of growth. 



Cotyledon subterranean, remaining in the seed and fusing with or 

 closely adhering to the endosperm, where it remains till decay. 



Stem undeveloped in the early stages of the seedling. 



Leaves simple, entire, radical or cauline, alternate, exstipulate, 

 petiolate, glabrous, reticulated, with the principal nerves radiating 

 from the base and becoming incurved upwards. 



No. 1. Cordate, subacutely cuspidate, with five strong leading 

 nerves radiating from the base, and two weaker branches from the 

 basal pair. 



LILIACEJE. 



Benth. et Hook. Gen. PI. iii. 748. 



Fruit and Seed. The ovary is superior and generally three- 

 celled, with axile placentation, sometimes one-celled with three 

 parietal placentas, very rarely two- to four- to many-celled. 

 The ovules are twin in each cell and collateral or numerous 

 and arranged in a double series, rarely solitary ; they are 

 anatropous, semianatropous, or in some genera orthotropous. 

 The fruit is baccate and in dehiscent, or capsular ; in some 

 cases the three component carpels are separated almost to the 

 base. The seeds vary, being flattened, angular or globose, 

 and with or without an arilloid. The testa also varies in thick- 

 ness and texture, and is sometimes developed into a wing. En- 

 dosperm is plentiful and fleshy, cartilaginous or horny. The 

 embryo is very small and globular, or elongated and straight 

 or curved, with the radicle close to the hilum, or sometimes 

 distant from it. The ovules are exceptional in Smilax, Euscus, 

 and some of their allies in being orthotropous. 



Instances of globose or subglobose seeds are met with in 

 Euscus, Asparagus, Polygonatum, Convallaria, Hyacinthus, 

 and others. The seeds of Tulipa, Lilium, Fritillaria, Urginea 

 and others are flattened or much compressed. Angular seeds 

 are met with in Allium, Galtonia, Paradisia, Asphodelus, 

 Asphodeline, Anthericum, and others. 



Seedlings. The cotyledon in this Order is generally, if 



