88 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



A species of Polypodium is sometimes found climbing up 

 the nikau stem, but as a rule the trunk is too smooth and 

 polished to allow creepers to gain any hold upon it. 



Liliaceae. 



THE LILY FAMILY. 



Distribution. An extensive family, occurring in all climates. The greater 

 number of these beautiful plants are herbaceous, with bulbous roots, but in 

 tropical countries they sometimes attain to the size of large trees. Two of the 

 most notable plants of this family, found in New Zealand, are the Cabbage Tree 

 (Cordyline australis) and the Flax (Phormium tenax). The lilies, tulips, and 

 hyacinths are well-known garden flowers, while the onion, leek, and asparagus 

 are useful vegetables. The Butcher's broom is the only shrubby British species. 

 The calyx of all liliaceous plants is petaloid, that is, the sepals have the 

 appearance of petals. The herbaceous species usually produce large and showy 

 flowers. 



Key to the Genera. 



(a) Leaves net-veined. Fruit a berry. 



Climbing shrubs. Rhipogonum, p. 90. 



Creeping herbs. Luzuriaga, p. 92. 



(b) Leaves parallel- veined. Fruit a berry, 



Glabrous terrestrial herbs. Berries blue. Dianella, p. 98. 



Tufted silky herbs, usually epiphytic. Astelia, p. 98. 



Trees, or rarely herbs. Flowers white. Cordyline, p. 92. 



(c) Leaves parallel-veined. Fruit a capsule. 



1. Flowers racemed, yellow, with spreading perianth. Bulbinella, p. 10-2. 

 Flowers panicled. 2 



2. Flowers white, perianth spreading. Pedicels jointed. Arthropodium, p. 100. . 

 Flowers red and yellow, tubular. Phormium, p 102. 

 Flowers, solitary, in spathes (sheathing 



bracts), when in bud. Herpolirion, p. 108. 



Genus Rhipogonum. 



A genus of three species, one New Zealand and two Australian. Rope-like 

 climbers with opposite leaves, and racemes of greenish flowers. Perianth of 6 

 leaflets. Stamens, 6; longer than the petals. Fruit, a berry, scarlet. (Name 

 from the Greek, meaning jointed twig). 1. sp. 



