THE COLCHICUM TRIBE. 239 



its beauty ; it is in the eastern parts of Asia, among 

 the Kamtchadales, &c. that it is applied to useful 

 purposes. By those people, the bulbs of certain 

 Lilies are used as a common food, and are stored up 

 as an important part of their winter stock of pro- 

 visions. 



The fibres of the leaves of both Asphodels and 

 Lilies are sometimes stronf^ enough to be manufac- 

 tured into hemp. Among the former is classed the 

 JVew Zealand Hemp (Phormium), of which such ex- 

 tensive use is now made in the navy ; and with the 

 latter are stationed the plants called Adams Needle 

 (Yucca), because their strong sharp-pointed leaves 

 have been fancifully compared to a gigantic needle. 

 A better name would have been the Needle-and-thread 

 Plant, for by soaking in water, the fibres of the leaves 

 may be separated from the pulp, without being torn 

 from the hard sharp point, so that, when properly 

 prepared, the leaves do really become needles, ready 

 provided with a skein of thread. 



Since both the Asphodel and Lily tribes are so 

 generally harmless, it becomes highly important that 

 all possibility of confounding them with a poisonous 

 order, which they in some respects resemble, should 

 be guarded against. Meadow Saffron, called by Bo- 

 tanists Colchicum, White Hellebore (Veratrum), and 

 some other plants, have a structure very analogous to 

 theirs. A calyx and corolla, each of three leaves of 

 similar form and texture, half a dozen stamens, and a 

 superior three-celled ovary, also characterise in part 

 the natural order called the Colchicum tribe, to which 



