THE BULB BOOK 



any particular plant should be placed. This is the only convenient 

 method in cases where the name of a plant is unknown, or in cases 

 where a wrong name has been given. When the name of a plant 

 is already known, all that is necessary is to turn to the pages 

 where each genus is described in alphabetical order. 



Class I— MONOCOTYLEDONS/ 



Division 1. PETALOIDE^. — Flowers quite regular (actinomor- 

 phic), parts arranged in whorls of 3 — i.e., 2 whorls making 

 the perianth of 6 segments ; 2 (or 1) whorls of stamens ; and a 

 whorl of 3 carpels united together. Ovary 3-celled, superior or 

 inferior ; seeds contain endosperm. Diagrammatieally this may 

 be represented as follows : — Perianth (petals) 3 + 3 ; Androecium 

 (stamens) 3+3; Gynsecium (pistils or carpels) (3) — the latter 

 figure being enclosed in brackets indicating that the carpels are 

 united or " syncarpous." 



Nat. Ord. GOMMELINACE.^. Characters. — Leaves linear or 

 lance-shaped, usually sheathing at the base. Flowers usually regular, 

 hermaphrodite, in spikes or umbels. Perianth inferior. Stamens 

 usually 6, hypogynous, sometimes only 3 perfect. ' Ovary superior. 



Genera described. — Commelina, Weldenia. 



Nat. Ord. NAIADACB.aj. Characters. — Marsh or water plants 

 with floating or submerged leaves. Flowers hermaphrodite, dioecious, 

 or monoecious. Perianth segments 0, or 2-4. Stamens usually 1-4 



Genus described. — Aponogeton. 



Nat. Ord. ALISMACE^. Characters.— Kaxsh. or water plants 

 with simple radical leaves and leafless flower- stems. Flowers 

 hermaphrodite or unisexual, with an inferior perianth. Stamens 6, 

 or 9, or more. 



Genera described. — Alisma, Butomus, Limnoohaeis, Sagittaeia. 



Nat. Ord. LILIACS.^. Characters. — Leaves cauline or radical. 

 Inflorescence mostly terminal, solitary, racemose, spiked, umbellate 

 or capitate. Flowers usually hermaphrodite and regular. Perianth 

 inferior. Segments equal, free, or very rarely united at the very 

 base. Stamens usually 6, hypogynous or attached to the perianth 

 lobes. Styles usually united at the top. Ovary superior, many- 

 seeded. Fruit berry-like. 



1 Tlie meanings of the technical terms used will be found in the Glossary 

 at the end of the work. 



U 



