.] AMARYLLISES. 867 



filaments. Ovules several in each ceE of the ovary. Capsule opening loculi- 

 cidaJly in 3 valves. — Bulbous herbs, with the habit of Crinum, and flowers 

 usually large and white. 



A small genus, the species chiefly maritime, and limited to the Old World if the American 

 Hymenocallis be really to be separated from it. 



1. P. biflorum, Bjoxh. M. Ind. ii. 125. Leaves several, 1 to li ft. long, 

 1 to 3 in. broad. Scape short, 2- or 3-flowered, with a spatha of 2 or 3 

 lanceolate bracts. Perianth-tube slender, 4 to 5 in. long. Segments narrow- 

 Unear, nearly as long. Staminal cup about ^ as long, sinuately toothed be- 

 tween the filaments, which are at least as long as the cup. 



On the seacoast. Champion, Sanee. Scarce in India (Roxburgh). The Hongkong speci- 

 mens agree very well with Koxburgh's description and unpublished drawing of P. biflorum, 

 but not with the figure of P. verecunchtm, Bpt. fieg. t. 413, to which Herbert refers it. 



Order CXV, DIOSCORIDE-ffi. 



Plowers unisexual, usually dioecious. Perianth of 6 lobes or divisions. 

 Stamens 6 or 3, iuserted on the perianth and shorter than its lobes.- Anthers 

 2-ceUed. Ovary inferior, 3-celled, with 2 pendulous ovules in each cell. 

 Stigmas 3, entire or 2-cleft, on a single or distinct styles or sessile. Pruit a 

 berry or 3-angled capsule. Seeds albuminous, with a minute embryo. — Herbs, 

 usuaEy twining, sometimes woody at the base. Leaves with digitate or parallel 

 nerves and reticulate veins, sometimes compound. Flowers small, in axiUaiy 

 spikes or racemes, simple or paniculate. 



An Order of few genera, dispersed over the greater part of the globe, 



1. DIOSCOBBA, Linn. 

 (Helmia, Kunth.) 



Plowers dioecious. Capsule 3-angled or 3-lobed, opening loculicidaUy at 

 the angles, often leaving the nerve-Hke edge free. Seeds winged. — Stems 

 twining. 



A large tropical or subtropical genus, common to the New and the Old World. 



Perianth-segments orbicular. Capsule broader than long. Seeds winged 

 all round. (Leaves mostly opposite.) 



Leaves oval-oblong or lanceolate , . 1. D. oppositifoKa. 



Leaves broadly cordate 2. i). Batatas. 



Perianth-segments narrow. Capsule longer than broad. Seeds winged 



at the base 3. i). sativa, 



1. D. oppositifolia, Unn.; Roseb.M.Ind.m..%(i'^; Wight, let. ^1^. 

 A glabrous twiner. Rhizome tuberous. Leaves stalked, mostly opposite, 

 from oval-oblong to lanceolate, 2 to 3 in. long, 3- to 7-nerved. Male spikes 

 when fuUy out 1 to li in. long, in axiUaiy cluster's or panicles. Plowers 

 distant, sessile. Perianth-segments orbicular, about 1 Hue long, slightly im- 

 bricate in 2 series. Anthers 6, nearly sessile, on a somewhat thickened disk, 

 without any rudiment of the ovary. Pemale racemes simple, with few dis- 

 tant flowers. Capsule of 3 flat wing-like rounded lobes, each near \ in. 

 broad, the axis rather longer. Seeds flat, winged all round. 



Hongkong, Hance, Wright. In Ceylon, the Indian Peninsula, Khasia, and Silhet. 



