384 SYSTEMATIC EOTA1ST. 



tropous ; embryo minute, in hard fleshy perisperm. Illustrative Genera : 

 Smilax, L. ; Paris, L. ; Trillium, Mill. ; Medeola, Gronov. 



Affinities, &c. The plants are not separated by any good characters from 

 the Asparageous tribe of the Liliaceee on the one hand, while they pass 

 into Dioscoreaceae on the other, from which they differ chiefly in having a 

 superior ovary. Smilax represents Smilaceae proper ; Paris, Trillium, &c. 

 have the calyx unlike the corolla, and are sometimes made a separate 

 Order, called ^Trilliacese. 



Distribution. A considerable Order in point of numbers. Temperate 

 parts of Europe, Asia, and America. Many species of Smilax in tropical 

 America and Asia. 



Qualities and Uses. Smilax has diuretic and demulcent properties, for 

 which the creeping rhizomes of many species are used, iinder the name of 

 Sarsaparilla, as Sm. medica (Vera Cruz), S. Purhampuy (Peru), & syphi- 

 litica (Brazilian), S. officinalis (Jamaica), 8. ylycyphylla (Australia) ; 

 Smilax aspera and excelsa, natives of S. Europe, have similar properties. 

 Smilax China has a fleshy root, said to possess similar properties. S. 

 Pseudo- China is largely used in domestic medicine in the United States. 

 Paris, Trillium, and Medeola are more allied to the active Liliacese in their 

 properties. Paris quadrifolia, a curious herb growing in groves in this 

 country, is said to be a narcotic and poison ; Medeola virginica is emetic 

 and diuretic. The species of Trillium are violent emetics. Rnscus has 

 curiously flattened branches, from the surface of which the flowers proceed. 



LILIACE^l. LILIES. 



Coli. Liliales, JBenth. et Hook. 



Diagnosis. Herbs with parallel-veined, sessile or sheathing leaves, 

 regular perfect 6- (rarely 4-)androus flowers, with the petnloid 6- 

 merous perianth free from the 2-3-celled ovary ; anthers introrse, 

 attached by a point ; style single ; perisperm fleshy. 



Character. 



Perianth free, of 6 pieces in 2 circles (fig. 472), distinct or united, 

 mostly of similar colour, and regular. Stamens 6, 

 introrse, springing from the segments of the pe- Fig. 472. 

 rianth. Ovary free, 3-celled; with numerous 

 anatropous or amphitropoas ovules on axile pla- 

 centas ; styles simple ; stigma 3-lobed or un- 

 divided, sometimes sessile. Fruit dry and 

 capsular, loculicidally valvate, or succulent and 

 indehiscent; seeds with the embryo mostly in 

 the axis of fleshy perisperm. Flower of Stiiia. 



ILLUSTRATIVE GENERA. 



Tribe 1. LTLIEJE. Anthers introrse; styles united; fruit capsular^ loculi- 

 cidal. Tulipa, L. -, Lilium, L. ; Hyacinthus, L. ; Scilla, L. 



