Dracama] CIX. LILIACE.E 641 



Mostly climbing, stems much branched. 



L. broad, 3-7 basal n. joined by reticulate 



veins ........ 2. Smilax. 



Narrow linear cladodia in the place of leaves . 3. Asparagus. 



1. DRAC^NA, Linn.; PI. Brit. Ind. vi. 327. 



Stem erect or procumbent, usually annulate, simple or forked, sometimes 

 with a large branching head (Draccena Draco, L., of Teneriffe), L. 

 usually crowded, forming a terminal crown, lanceolate or linear, with a 

 midrib ofteu faint, and oo longit. n., transverse veinlets oblique. Fl. in 

 terminal panicles. Perianth tubular or campanulate, 6-cleft, lobes narrow. 

 Stamens 6, inserted at the mouth of the perianth-tube, authers versatile. 

 Ovary 3-celled, style filiform, 1 ovule in each cell. Berry 1-3-seeded, albumen 

 horny, embryo small. Species 35, tropical and sub-tropical regions of Africa, 

 Asia, and Australia. Besides the two following, a number of smaller species 

 in India. 



1. D. angustifolia, Roxb. — Syn. D. ensifolia, Wall. Vern. Kunlinnet, Burm. Khasi 

 hills. Andamans. Tenasserim — Malay Arehip. New Guinea. Australia. China. 

 Stem 8-30 ft. high, 1. linear, sessile with a broad base, 12-24 by 1—1 J in. Fl. white or 

 with purplish tips, j-1 in. long, in large spreading panicles. 2. D. spicata, Roxb. 

 A - -i in. Khasi hills. Cachar. Chittagong. Andamans. Western Ghats and 

 Nilgiris. Stem 10-15 ft. high, 1. elliptic-lanceolate, narrowed into a broad-based 

 petiole, 12-15 by li-2 in., the midrib evanescent towards the apex. Fl. greenish- 

 yellow, scented, slender, in a long, contracted, racemiform panicle. Berry crimson. 



Cordyline terminalis, Kunth. Cultivated in gardens, and run wild in India and 

 Burma, original home probably Malaya. Attains 8-10 ft., stem slender, 1. lanceolate 

 or elliptic-lanceolate, narrowed into a broad-based petiole, nerves branching off from 

 the midrib at a very acute angle, blade (often variegated purple and black, var.yerreo) 

 12 24, pet. 3-6 in. long. Fl. white or purple, in an ample terminal panicle. Ovary 

 3-celled, "vules several in each cell, biseriate. 



2. SMILAX, Linn. : Fl. Brit. Ind. vi. 302. 



Climbing shrubs, stems slender, from a creeping rootstock, a few herbs. 

 L. persistent, basal n. 3-7, joining at the apex, with a system of reticulate 

 veins, petiole usually with 2 tendrils at the base. Fl. umbellate, dioecious. 

 Perianth-segments (j, free. Ovaiy trigonous, 3-celled, 1 or 2 pendulous ovules 

 in each cell. Berry globose, seeds usually 2, hemispheric. Species 180, 

 cosmopolitan in the tropics and temperate regions. Of the Indian species 

 only three, large and widely distributed, can be mentioned. 



A. I'mbels sessile. 



1. S. aspera, I. inn. : Collet) Simla Fl.. 522, ti:.'. 175. — Syn. S. maculnta. Koxb. : Wight 

 to. i. 2059. Outer Himalaya from Kashmir eastwards, ascending to 6,000 ft. Khasi 

 Bills. Upper Burma. Nilgiris, Palnis. — Ceylon, montane zone up to 7,000 ft. 

 Mediterranean region. An extensive climiwr, branches armed or unarmed. I. often 



blotched, triangular or ovate, base more or lessi late, blade 2—6, pet. 1 in., basal n. 



usually 7. Inflorescence spiciform, umbels numerous sessile. Berry J in. diam. in li 

 pendulous bunches, red, finally blue-black. 



B. Umbels pedunculate. 



2. S. prollfera, Etoxb. Vern. Ram-dataun, Dehra Dun; Seinnabaic, Burm. Subhima- 



layan tract and outer hills, from Che Jumna eastwards, ascending to 1,000 ft., com n in 



s.i I forest. I ice id ^ forests in tl toiater parts of India and Burma Ceylon isl 



region to 8,000 ft, A stout climber, stem prickly, up to i in. diam. 1.. rigidly 

 coriai s, ovate to orbicular, the 2 inner nerves separating from the midrib some 



nee above the base, blade I s . i»'t. I in., usually auricled. Umbels in large 

 axillary panicles, fl, pale-green. Kerry j in. diam., I'd when ripe. 



:i. S. macrophylla, Roxb. Vern. Ramdatan, Blind. Subhimalayan tract from 

 Kumaon eastwards Behar. Chutio Nagpur. Central Provinces, common. The 

 Konkan. Lssam. Chittagong. I*-^" I jlands. A large pricklj climber, 



I. ovate to orbi 6-18 In liam . basal n. 6 7. pet. narrowfj sheathing, not 

 aurioled. Umbels 2 8, alternat > a common peduncle. Berries large. 



T T 



