300 TEXTBOOK OF BOTANY 



above the ovary, whereas in the lily family they are nearly 

 always attached below. The present family also includes 

 a good many plants that are cultivated for their flowers. 

 Among the best-known are the amaryllis, narcissus, daffodil, 

 jonquil, and tuberose. The agaves are plants of tropical 

 America and the southwestern United States. The bases of 

 their leaves are much thickened and serve for water storage. 

 One of the agaves is that which we know as the " century 

 plant " ; the juice extracted from other agaves makes the 

 Mexican drink pulque ; and certain agaves and other mem- 

 bers of the amaryllis family supply a substitute for soap. 

 Sisal hemp is made from the fibers of some of the agaves. 



306. The Iris Family. This is closely related to the lily 

 and amaryllis families. The members of the iris family 

 have only three stamens instead of the six that are nearly 

 always present in the two preceding families. The stamens 

 and perianth leaves are inserted above the ovary, as in the 

 amaryllis family. To the iris family belong also a number of 

 plants that are cultivated for their showy flowers ; among 

 them the crocus, several species of iris (fleur-de-lis), and the 

 gladiolus. The drug and dyestuff known as saffron is ob- 

 tained from the dried stigmas of a species of crocus. The 

 blue flag, whose underground stem and roots are used in 

 medicine, is an American species of iris. " Orris root " is 

 the fragrant underground stem of a European iris. 



307. The Banana Family. This should be mentioned 

 because of the importance of the fruit of the cultivated 

 species of banana. Another species of the same genus is the 

 tropical plant which bears the edible fruit known as the plan- 

 tain; still another species growing in the Philippines supplies 

 manila hemp. 



308. The Orchid Family. The members of this family 

 are characterized by their irregular flowers, which are often 

 of an extremely odd and striking appearance. The flower 

 of the lady's-slipper (Fig. 159) may be taken as an example, 



