3 82 



THE LILIALES 



lily spring from deep-seated bulbs that are formed in a peculiar 

 way. The seed germinates on the surface of the soil and forms 

 a very small bulb and a single grass-like leaf. During each suc- 

 ceeding season a larger leaf and bulb are formed, and when of 

 sufficient size, the bulb sends out one or more runners that pene- 

 trate the soil and develop new bulbs at their tips (Fig. 287, B). 



FIG. 287. The fawn lily, Erythronium americanum: A, habit of the 

 plant. B, the bulb, showing the origin of the stem and leaves shown in A 

 r, runners that penetrate the soil forming new bulbs at their tips. C, 

 pistil of three carpels, at the right the fruit, a capsule, opening to scatter 

 the seeds. 



In this way the bulbs become deep-seated and rapidly increase 

 in numbers, and after several years they attain sufficient size to 

 develop two leaves and a flower. The mottled leaves have the 

 same habit of rolling up in emerging from the ground, as noted 

 in the skunk cabbage. It is to be observed that the position 

 assumed by the mature leaf of many plants is often strikingly 

 correlated with the extent of the root system. In the Liliales 

 generally, which do not have extensive lateral roots, the hang of 

 the leaves is such as to direct the water that falls upon them 



