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A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY 
The families most likely to be confused with the lilies 
are the Amaryllis Family (Amaryllidacew) and the Iris 
Family Uridacee), but in both of these the ovary is inferior 
(§ 138) and appears beneath the flower. Among the 
amaryllis forms (those with six stamens) are narcissus 
(including daffodils and jonquils), snowdrop, snowflake 
(Fig. 220), tuberose, and certain so-called lilies. Among 
the iris forms (those with three stamens) are iris (including 
the various flags) (Fig. 242), crocus, and gladiolus. 
160. Orchids.—In number of species the Orchid Family 
(Orchidacee) is the greatest family of the Monocotyledons; 
but orchids are comparatively rare plants, not extensively 
distributed, and often very much restricted. In actual 
number of individual plants they are not to be compared 
with the grasses, or even with the lilies. They are noted 
for their remarkably irregular flowers, whose bizarre forms 
and brilliant coloration are associated with insect visits. 
In fact, the orchids may be said to have specialized in 
adaptations to insects (§ 147). They can always be recog- 
nized among Monocotyledons by their inferior ovary and 
by the remarkable modification of one of the petals (appar- 
ently the lowest one), which always differs from the others 
in size and form, and is called the l¢p. Sometimes the lip 
is like an inflated pouch or sac, as in the lady-slipper 
(Fig. 275); and often it develops a conspicuous hollow 
spur (Fig. 243). The great display of the family is in the 
tropics, and there many of them are perching plants (§ 41). 
The tropical forms are most prized as greenhouse plants, 
and a good collection of orchids in bloom is exceedingly 
attractive. 
Very little use has been made of orchids, the best known 
useful product being vanilla, which is extracted from the 
fruit of a climbing orchid native in Mexico. 
161. Other useful Monocotyledons.—Two useful and 
well-known Monocotyledons do not belong to any of these 
