ENDOGENOUS OR MONOCOTYLKDONOUS PLANTS. 



493 



tracted from the seeds of Sabadilla, or Cebadilla; the produce of 

 Schccnocaulon officinale, &c. of the Mexican Andes. The seeds and 

 the corms of Colchicum are used in medicine. 



952. Sllbord. UvularieSB (Bellwort Family) has a few-seeded loculi- 

 cidal capsule or berry, more or less united styles, and a deciduous 

 perianth ; the stems from rootstocks. — Ex. Uvularia. 



953. Ord. JllllCaceae {Rush Family). Herbaceous, mostly grass- 

 like plants, often leafless ; the small glumaceous flowers in clusters, 

 cymes, or heads. Perianth mostly dry, greenish or brownish, of six 

 leaves (sepals and petals) in two series. Stamens six, or three : 

 anthers introrse. Ovary free, three-celled, or one-celled from the 

 placenta? not reaching the axis ; their styles united into one : stig- 

 mas three. Capsule three-valved, few- or many-seeded. Albumen 

 fleshy. — Ex. Juncus (Rush). 



954. Ord. roiltedei'iaccae (Picker -el-ioeed Family) comprises a few 

 aquatic plants, with the flowers, either solitary or spicate, arising 

 from a spathe or from a fissure of the petiole ; the six-cleft and 

 colored perianth persistent and withering, often adherent to the base 

 of the three-celled ovary ; the stamens three, and inserted on the 



FIG. 1252. Colchicum autumnale ; a flowering plant. 1253 Perianth laid open. 125*. 

 Pistil, with the long distinct st/le3 1251 Leafy stem aid fruit (capsule opening by eepti- 

 cidul dehiscence). 1258. Capsule di . idei truuiveraeiy. 1-57. Sectiou of a seed, and a sep- 

 arate embryo* 



