380 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



exception ; from Iridaceae the triaiidrous genera differ in the stamens being 

 introrse and superposed to the petals, which last character also separates 

 them from Hypoxidaceae. The radicle is said to be remote from the 

 hilum, as in Hypoxids ; while it is next it in Amaryllids and Irids. The 

 VellozicB and Barbacenia are more or less arborescent, and in some degree 

 branched, especially the former, which have a very remarkable aspect ; 

 in many respects they approach Bromeliads. The plants are natives of 

 America, the Cape, and Australia, and have sometimes bitter and astrin- 

 gent properties, as Aletris farinosa. The roots often contain a red matter 

 available as a dye, whence the name of Blood-roots ; Lachnanthes tinctoria 

 is used in America for dyeing. The roots of several species of Hfsmodorum 

 are eaten, roasted, by the natives of Australia. Genera : Hcemodoruin^ 

 Sm. ; Aletris j L. ; Vellozia, Mart. ; ^Barbacenia, Vandelli. 



IRIDACE^l. THE FLAG OEDEE. 

 Coli. Narcissales, Benth. et Hook. 



Diagnosis. Herbs with bulbs, corms, or rhizomes, equitant, 

 2-ranked leaves, and perfect, regular or irregular flowers ; the seg- 

 ments of the 6-parted petaloid perianth (fig. 467) convolute in 



Fig. 467. 



Fig. 468. 



Fig. 469. 



Fig. 471. 



Fig. 467. Vertical section of the flower of Iris : a, inferior ovary. 



Fig. 468. Stigmas of Crocus. 



Fig. 469. Loculicidal capsule of Iris burst. 



Fig. 470. Plan of ditto. 



Fig. 471. Section of seed of Iris. 



the bud in 2 circles ; the tube inseparate from the 3-celled ovary ; 

 stamens 3, superposed to the outer segments of the perianth, di- 

 stinct or monadelphous ; anthers extrorse ; style 1 ; stigmas 3 

 (fig. 468), often petaloid (Iris) ; capsule 3-valved, loculicidal (figs. 



