OHDEE OXXVI. H^MODOEACEiE. ORDER CXXXI. TEILLIACEJ]:. 



127 



ones fertile, and the central one abortive. Pollen sometimes 

 granular and powdery, but more commonly coliering in ■wax-like 

 masses, •which are usually attached to a gland of the stigma. 

 Ovary twisted, adherent to the tube of the perianth, 1-ceUed, 

 many-ovuled. Fruit a 3-ribbed, 3-valved capsule. 



A very large order, remarknblo for its curious and oddly-shaped, but usually 

 very showy, lloivers. Many of the tropical species are Epiphytes, as seen in fig. 

 1, Plato YLl. Besides their beauty they have no very remarkable proper- 



Pig. 84 



ties. The Salep of commerce is derived from a species of Orchis, while the 

 Vanilla of tropical America yields the aromatic seeds, which are so much used 



J^l 



Fig. 85. 



as a flavor and pertume. The Orchis, fig. 84, Arethusa, Cypropedium (Lady^a 

 Slipper), and the Spiranthes, fig. 35, are examples. 



GROUP IV. 

 Order OXXVI. — H£emodorace£e. 



Perennial herbs, with fibrous roots. Leaves ensifoi-m, equi- 

 tant. Perianth woolly, or scurfy, adherent to the ovary, some- 

 times free, with a regular 6-cleft limb. Stamens 3, or 6, arising 

 from the tube of the perianth. Ovary 8-eelled. Anthers introrse. 

 Style 1. Capsule opening by valves, rarely indehiscent. 



A very small order of plants, of which Aletris (Star-ffrass% is an example. 



Order CXXVII. — Amaryllidaceae. 



Perennial herbs, arising from bulbs, rarely with fibrous roots. 

 Leaves parallel-veined. Flowers showy, mostly on scapes, and 

 arising from spathes. Perianth regular, sometimes somewhat 

 irregular ; tube adherent to the ovary ; limb 6-parted. Stamens 

 6, with introrse anthers, arising from the segments of the peri- 

 anth. Ovary 3-ceIled. Style 1. Stigma 3-lobed. Fruit a, cap- 

 sule or berry. 



A rather larj^e, chiefly tropical order, distinguished among Endogeus by the 

 poisonous character of many of the species. Their bulbs are often acrid and 

 emetic, as in some of the species of Narcissus. Tliose of the Hjemanthus arc 

 so virulent that the Hottentots use them to poison thoir arrows. The Jacobean 

 Lily {AmarylLu), Jonquil, Daffodil {Narcissus), and the Century-plant {Agave), 

 are found here. 



Order CXXVIII. — Iridacesa. 



Perennial herbs, arising from rhizomas, bulbs, or corms, rarely 

 with fibrous roots. Leaves equitant. Flowers often showy, 

 usually arising from a spathe. Perianth-tube adherent to the 

 ovary; limb colored, 6-parted ; the divisions usually in 2 obvious, 

 often unequal series. Stamens 3, distinct or monadelphous, with 

 extrorse, 2-celled anthers. Ovary 3-oelled. Style 1. Stigmas 3, 

 dilated or petaloid. Capsule 3-celled, 3-valved, with loculioidal 

 dehiscence. « 



A large order of plants, distinguished more by their beauty than by any ac- 

 tive properties. Orris root is tlie dried rhizoma of a species of Iris, native of 

 Southern Europe. The Iris {Blue Flag, Fleur de lis), Crocus and Gladiolus, 

 are examples. • 



GROUP V. 

 Order OXXIX. — Dioscoreaceae. 



Twining, often shrubby plants. Leaves alternate, reticulate- 

 ly-veiued. Flowers dioecious, or monoeciotis. Perianth-tube 

 adherent to the ovary ; limb with 6 segments, in 2 series. Sta- 

 mens 6, inserted into the base of the perianth-segments. Ovary 

 3-celIed. Cells 1 — 2-ovuled. Styles nearly distinct. 



A small tropical order, possessing no remarkable properties. Their roots 

 are tuberous, and those of the Yam {Diosco7'ea), containing starch, are edibla 

 and highly nutritious. One species of Dioscorea is native. 



Order CXXX. — Smilaceffi. 



Herbs, or shrubs, often climbing. Leaves reticulately-veined. 

 Flowers dioecious. Perianth free from the ovary, 6-parted, regu- 

 lar. Stamens 6, inserted at the base of the segments. Ovary 3- 

 celled. Fruit a globular, few or many-seeded berry. 



A small, mostly unimportant order. The ofHcinal Sarsaparilla is derived 

 iVom several 3. A m erican species of Smilas, a genus of which we have a few 

 native species. 



Order GXXXI.— Trilliacese. 



Herbs. Stems simple. Eoots tuberous. Leaves verticillate, 

 reticulately-veined. Flowers often large, solitary, perfects Peri- 

 anth of 6 segments, usually in 2 differently colored series. Sta- 

 mens 6. Anthers linear. Ovary free from the perianth, 3-celled. 

 Styles distinct. Ovules many, in 2 rows. Fruit a 3-celled berry. 



Avery small order, represented here by Medeola {Cucumber-root), and 

 Trillium. 



