41 8 THE LILIALES 



rently depend entirely upon the attraction of their colors, while 

 other forms rely upon perfumes, the flowers being small and in- 

 conspicuous and often hidden. So we have reached a point in 

 the evolution of the flower where it presents a number of varia- 

 tions that are adapted and of benefit to special kinds of insects. 

 Insects have likewise varied and some have become of special use 

 to flowers owing to their peculiar form. In this way certain in- 

 sects and flowers have become dependent upon each other, and 

 as a result of their mutually beneficial variations, the flowering 

 plants and insects have greatly increased in numbers and exceeded 

 all other groups in the plant and animal kingdoms (p. 388). 



(&) Other Forms of the Lily Order. — ^This order comprises 

 an extensive series of plants that present nearly all the variations 

 that occur in the flower. At the bottom of the series is the Rush 

 family with grass-like stems and leaves (Fig. 288, A, B). The 

 flower has the same structure as noted in Erythronium, but the 

 perianth is composed of small scale-like leaves destitute of nectar 

 glands, and as you would expect, is wind poUinated. The Bunch- 

 flower family is a somewhat higher type. The perianth is some- 

 what larger and more delicate then in the rushes and the carpels 

 are often but partially fused (Fig. 288, C, D). The flowers gain 

 in conspicuousness by being associated in compact inflores- 

 cences, but do not develop as a rule the bright colors character- 

 istic of large flowers. The family is represented by Tofieldia, 

 swamp pink (Helonias), blazing star (Chamaelirium) , Zygade- 

 nus, hellebore (Veratrum), bellwort {Uvularia), autumn crocus, 

 etc. The Lily of the Valley family is characterized by rather 

 larger flowers than those of the previous family, and they are less 

 clustered and often provided with tubular perianths owing to 

 the mass growth of the perianth segments. The fruit is a berry, 

 unlike the majority of the families of this order. Here belong 

 the asparagus, the false and true Solomon's seal, Indian cucum- 

 ber, Trillium, and the closely related Smilax, etc. The Lily 

 family includes nearly one half of the members of the order and 

 occupies a medium position in the evolution of the group. The 

 flowers are large and of the Erythronium type. Here belong 

 some of the most showy of our native and cultivated plants; the 



