NARCISSUS TRIBE. ORDER LILIACE^. 531 



the stamens and the positions of the anthers, should indicate 

 most important variations in their properties. For, whilst 

 nearly all the Irideae are harmless, and some are nutritious, the 

 Narcissus tribe are characterised by their poisonous properties. 

 These are principally apparent in the viscid juice of the bulbs of 

 African species of Haemanthus, into which the Hottentots are 

 said to dip their arrows in order to render them venomous ; but 

 they have long been known in other kinds. The narcotic odour 

 of the common Narcissus was known to the ancients ; as was 

 also the emetic principle contained in its bulbs, which is at the 

 present time sometimes employed in medicine. Its juices appear 

 to combine narcotic and acrid properties, which are so powerful, 

 that two or three drachms of the extract will destroy life in the 

 course of a few hours. Many of the species of the genus Ama- 

 ryllis, which is especially abundant in South America, are dis- 

 tinguished for the fragrance of their flowers ; this is much 

 diminished, however, by the effects of cultivation, which some- 

 times causes the flower to become double. One species is 

 cultivated for the sake of its roots, especially in Peru, where they 

 are eaten as potatoes are in this country. 



Order LILIACEJR, or Lily tribe. 



709. The species associated byDe Candolle under this order 

 may be advantageously separated, on account of their number, 

 and their differences of structure, into three subordinate groups, 

 the Asphodel tribe, the true Lily tribe, and the Bromeliacece or 

 Pine- Apple tribe. The Asphodel tribe includes the Hyacinth, 

 Onion, Squill, &c., and is remarkable for the extreme simplicity 

 of the structure of all its parts, and for the strong similarity 

 which exists in the flowers of the different species. They have 

 all a perianth consisting of six pieces of similar form, size, and 

 colour, arranged in two rows, the outer one, therefore, being 

 calyx, and the inner one corolla. Within the latter are six 

 stamens ; and in the centre is a superior three-celled ovarium, 

 which changes to a fruit containing many seeds, covered with a 

 black brittle skin. The majority of the plants so characterised 



