XII. H^EMODORACE^E. 739 



are also analogous to those of Liliacece ; the mucilage of their bulbs is more abundant and less acrid but 

 it is combined with a bitter gum-resin, which is a violent emetic. This property induced the ancients to 

 class among medicinal plants Narcissus pseudo-Narcissus and the Snowflake (Levconan verntim) which 

 both flower in the spring. The bulb of Sternbergia lutea, which grows in the East, was formerly employed 

 to hasten the ripening of indolent tumours; those of Amaryllis, Crinum, and Pancratium are still thus 

 used in Asia and America. Pancratium maritimum possesses properties similar to those of Scilla and 

 is sometimes substituted for it. Amaryllis Belladonna, of the Antilles, and H&manthus to.vicaria of 

 South Africa, are eminently poisonous ; the Kaffirs make use of the latter to poison their arrows. Crinum 

 zei/lanieum is also considered in the Moluccas a violent poison. Finally, the flowers of Narcissus pseudo- 

 Narcissus are narcotic in small doses, and dangerous in larger ones. Alstrcemeria, from South America 

 which are noticeable for their habit and the beauty of their flowers, bear farinaceous tubers, which may 

 serve as food. A. Sakilla is used in Chili as a substitute for Sarsaparilla. 



The Agave americana, cultivated in our gardens under the incorrect name of Aloe, is greatly 

 esteemed in Mexico, on account of the various uses which can be made of it. When its central bud is 

 removed previous to the lengthening of the scape, it yields an abundance of sugary liquid, which, when 

 fermented, becomes a spirituous drink, called pulque, greatly esteemed by the Mexicans, and which by 

 distillation yields an alcohol analogous to rum, named mescal. The expressed juice of the leaves is pre- 

 scribed by American doctors as a resolvent and alterative, very efficacious in syphilis, scrofula, and 

 even cancers. The woody fibres which form the framework of the leaves afford a very tenacious thread, 

 the Vegetable Silk of commerce, from which the ancient Mexicans made paper. The scape, dried and 

 cut in pieces of a varying thickness, is used for razor-strops, and as a substitute for cork. 



XII. II^MODORACE^E, Br. 



FLOWERS 3 . PERIANTH petaloid, 6-merous, 2-seriate, regular or sub-irregular, 

 usually superior. STAMENS 6, of ivhich 3 are often sterile, or 0, inserted on the perianth- 

 segments. OVARY inferior, or rarely superior, 3-celled, or sub-'L-celled ; OVULES usually 

 semi-anatropous. FRUIT usually a loculicidally Evolved capsule. SEEDS albuminous. 

 EMBRYO with radicle near or far from the hilum. Perennial HERBS. LEAVES ensiform, 

 equitant. FLOWERS in a panicle or corymb. 



Perennial HERBS ; roots fibrous, fascicled. STEM simple or nearly so, some- 

 times shortened, or a rhizome. LEAVES alternate, usually distichous, ensiform, 

 sheathing at the base, equitant. FLOWERS 9 , regular or sub-irregular, in racemes 

 or a corymb, bracteolate. PERIANTH petaloid, tubular or sub-cam panulate, usually 

 hairy or woolly outside, glabrous within, usually superior, 6-partite; divisions 

 2-seriate, either free to the base, or joined below into a tube, sometimes sub- 

 irregular, and unilateral above (Anigosanthus) . STAMENS 6, inserted at the base of 

 the perianth- segments, of which 3 are opposite to the outer segments, often imper- 

 fect or 0, the 3 others fertile, 1 sometimes deformed ; filaments filiform or subulate, 

 rarely dilated and petaloid, free, or partially adnate to the perianth-segments ; anthers 

 introrse, 2-celled, basi- or dorsi-fixed, dehiscence longitudinal. OVARY inferior or 

 rarely superior (Xiphidium, Wachendorfia, &c.), with 3 cells opposite to the inner 

 segments of the perianth, rarely sub-1-celled by failure of the septa (Phlebocarya] ; 

 style terminal, simple, base sometimes dilated and hollow ; stigma undivided ; ovules 

 inserted at the inner angle of the cells, solitary or geminate, or indefinite, peltate, 



