LILIACEyE 



245 



or fascicles of cladophylls. Each flower is mounted on a 

 very slender jointed pedicel. The perianth consists of six 

 similar segments which are separate or slightly united at 

 the base. They are persistent in the fruit. Stamens are 



Fig. 98.— Garden asparagus (Asparagus officinalis). A, pistillate flower; 

 B, staminate flower; C. mature fruit; D, section of fruit; E and F, portions of 

 the plant showing method of branching, position of flowers and leaves. 



six in number and inserted at the bases of the perianth 

 segments; the filaments are distinct and filiform, and the 

 anthers are ovate or oblong, with introrse dehiscence. The 

 superior ovary is sessile, three-lobed, with a short, slender 

 style and three short, recurved stigmas. The fruit (Fig. 98) 



