198 SOUTH AFRICAN BOTANY 
Other genera are Ornithogalum (Chinkering Chee) 
Allium (Onion), Yucca, Bulbine, Eucomis, Gloriosa, 
Lilium, Tulipa, Dracaena. 
Economically this order is of no great importance ; 
the bulb of the onion and young shoots of asparagus 
are used for food, but many of the plants have very 
beautiful flowers and are extensively cultivated. 
161. N. O. Amaryllidaceae. 
General Characteristics —Plants are herbs. Flowers 
regular, perianth 3+ 3, androecium 38+ 38, ovary 
inferior 3-celled. Fruit a capsule, or a berry. 
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Fig, 111.—Hypoxis. 
I. Vertical Section of Flower. II. Floral Diagram, 
Type.—Hypoxis (fig. 111). 
Inflorescence.—Flower regular complete. Perianth, 
polyphyllous, 3+ 8 superior; outer segments green on 
under side, white or yellow upper side. 
Androecium.—Free 8+ 3 superior, anthers long, 
basifixed, 2 lobed, introrse. Filaments short. 
Gynoecium.—Syncarpous, 8, inferior, style very short 
or absent, stigma large, 3-fid. Ovary 38-celled, axile 
placentation, numerous ovules. 
Fruit.—A capsule which dehisces by splitting across. 
