SECT. II 



PHANEROGAMIA 



465 



number. Similarly, in nearly every family transitional forms are found which link 

 the different alliances together. 



Of all the families of the Liliiflorae, the Juncaceae probably resemble most 

 clearly the primitive type. From primitive forms, similar to this family, have arisen 

 on the one side the LiUaceae (some of the representatives of which still possess a 

 grass-like character), and on the other side the Glumiflorae. Most of the other 

 Liliiflorae, e.g. the Amaryllidaceae and Iridaeeae, are probably descended from 

 the LiUaceae, as well as the orders Gynandrae and Seitamineae, but in these meta- 

 morphosis and reduction have advanced further. 



Family Juncaceae. — Flowers hypogynous, hermaphrodite, with 

 GLUMACEOUS perigone ; pollen in tetrads ; ovary three- or four-locular ; 

 three long papillose stigmas, endosperm mealy ; grass-like plants (Fig. 

 401). 



On account of their similarity to Grasses, the Juncaceae are often 

 classified with the mumiflome, although in the structure of their 

 flowers they agree essentially with the LiU- 

 aceae, their points of disagreement being for 

 the most part due to their different mode 

 of pollination. In the Juncaceae pollination 

 is effected by the wind ; their flowers are 

 correspondingly inponspicuous and provided 

 with dry pollen and large papillose stigmas. 

 The inflorescences are variously constructed 

 and of different types. The fruit is a cap- 

 sule. In the genus Juncus (Bog-Bush) the 

 capsules are many-seeded ; in Luzula (Wood- 

 Bush), three-seeded. 



Geographical Distribution. — The Jun- 

 caceae grow in the temperate and cooler zones 

 of both hemispheres. 



Family LiUaceae. — Flowers hypogynous ; 

 perigone corollaceous ; six stamens ; seed 

 with endosperm, which is either oily or con- 

 sists largely of cellulose (Figs. 402-405). 



Most of the LiUaceae are succulent herbs 

 with perennial bulbs or rhizomes ; the species 

 of Aloe and Dracaena, however, are in part 

 shrubs or small trees. The leaves are not segmented into stalk and 

 lamina, and are usually narrow in proportion to their length, undivided 

 and rarely toothed (e.g. some species of Aloe). The flowers, which are 

 often large and conspicuous, are solitary and terminal, as in the Tulip, 

 or are aggregated in clusters, like the Hyacinth, less frequently in pro- 

 fusely-branched and complicated inflorescences. They are adapted 

 to insect-pollination and are provided with means of enticement, such 

 as white or highly-coloured perigone leaves, sweet perfume, nectaries, 

 etc. The fruit is a capsule or berry. 



2 K 



Fig. 401. — Juncus lamprocarpus. 

 a, Part of an inflorescence ; 

 single flower (&) and gyn- 

 cecium (c) more highly magni- 

 fied. 



