390 VARIOUS PLANT GROUPS 



but one other family besides the above. Both are made up 

 of herbs with leaves of varied form, sometimes rudimentary or 

 absent; regular flowers in an unbranched spadix, with one or 

 more spathes; and the superior ovary having one or ?nore cells 

 and one or more ovules. 



See formula of Arales on pages 422, 423. 



149. The rush family (Juncaceae) is typified by the com- 

 mon rush. (Fig. 221, page 234.) 



See formulas of Juncus and Juncaceaj on pages 422, 423. 



At first sight the rushes appear somewhat similar to grasses, 

 and indeed certain botanists have regarded them as belonging 

 to the same order. The resemblance comes chiefly from the 

 grass-hke leaves of many species and the glumaeeous charac- 

 ter of the perianth.' The family may be defined as herbs tvilh 

 regidar flou^ers having a glumaeeous perianth, either six or three 

 staynens, and a superior, compound ovary. 



150. The lily family (Liliaceae). Examples: onion (Figs. 60, 

 61, pages 63, 64), asparagus (Fig. 62, pages 64, 65), Indian 

 poke (Fig. 186, page 199), and lily-of-the-vallev (Fig. 193, 

 page 204). 



Formulas of Allium, Asparagus, Convallaria, Vcratrum, and 

 Liliaccaj are given on pages 424, 42';, 



One of the largest and most important, the lily family is 

 generally easy of recognition as being composed mostly of 

 herbs with regular flowers having a petaloid perianth, six stamens 

 and a superior, compound ovary. 



151. The iris family (Iridaceae) is represented by saffron 

 (Fig. 168 II, page 176). 



See formulas of Crocus and Iridacea? on pages 424, 42.5. 



The Iridaccffi are herbs having flowers like those of the lily 

 family but with only three stamens, and art inferior ovary. 



152. The lily order (Liliales or Liliifiorae) comprises 

 several families which are like the lily familj^ in being mo.'tlly 

 herbs loith leaves of varied form; inflorescence never spadiccous 



' Indicated in the formulas bj' the inverted exclamation mark. 



