466 



BOTANY 



Sub-Families and Representative Genera. — (1) Melanthoideae. Three 

 styles, septicidal capsules ; Veratrum ; Colchicum ; Sabadilla. (2) Lilioidea. One 

 style, loeulieidal capsules ; Tulipa, LiHum (with a nectary groove in each perianth- 

 leaf) ; JSCyacinthus ; Muscari ; Omithogalum (Fig. 402); Scilla ; Urginea ; Allium, 

 bulbous plants with radical leaves and compound bostrychoid inflorescences ; Aloe. 

 (3) Asparagoidcae, without bulbs; fruit a berry; Polygonatum ; Majanthemum, 



Fig. 402. — a-e, OriiWiogalum umbdlatttm ; a, entire plant (reduced) ; 6, flower (nat. size); c, flower, 

 part of peiigone and andrcecium removed ; d, fruit ; e, fruit in transverse section ; f-g, 

 Colchicum autumnale ; f, fruit in transverse section ; g, section through seed showing endo- 

 sperm (<■). (c-g magnified.) 



with dimerous flower ; Convallaria ; Paris ; Asparagus, with needle-shaped, leafless 

 branches ; Smilax ; Dracaena, dichotomously branching trees with secondary 

 growth. 



Geographical Distribution. — Members of the large family Liliaceae are found 

 widely distributed in all zones, yet a preference seems to be shown for the dry 

 warmer parts of the Temperate Zone. Numerous species are found in fields and 

 meadows of the Mediterranean countries. Members of this family occur in 

 profusion in South Africa, where during the short spring, in company with other 

 bulbous and tuberous plants (Iridaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Orchidaceae), they cover 



