494 Litiacew—FErythronium. 
Orper XI.—LILIACEA. 
Herbs having bulbous, tuberous, rhizomatous or fibrous roots, 
or very rarely shrubs or trees. Leaves usually narrow, with 
parallel veins, rarely net-veined. Inflorescence various. Flowers 
usually showy and hermaphrodite. Perianth inferior ; segments 
commonly 6, all alike, nearly free or unitedina tube. Stamens 
6, anthers turned inwards. Styles usually united to the top. 
Fruit superior, 3-celled, many-seeded, capsular or fleshy ; seeds 
albuminous. This ‘order furnishes a great proportion of the 
most brilliant of hardy petaloid monocotyledons. It contains 
about 100 genera and 1,500 species. The limits of this order 
are by no means satisfactorily defined, and this remark applies 
with still greater force in respect to genera and species. Some 
systematists include here the genera referred by others to 
orders bearing the names Melunthacece, Smilacee, Trillidcee, 
and Philesiacew. Those included in the two last-mentioned 
groups will be found placed at the end of this order. 
1. ERYTHRONIUM. 
Dwarf stemless herbs with scaly bulbs, radical ovate or ovate- 
_ lanceolate often spotted leaves, and solitary pendulous rather 
large flowers on a short scape. Perianth composed of 6 free 
similar erect or reflexed lanceolate segments. Stamens 6. 
Fruit a 3-celled capsule. About half-a-dozen species are known, 
natives of north temperate regions in both the Old and New 
Worlds. The generic name is from the Greek gpu@pés, red, the 
colour of the flowers in the European species. 
1. EH. Dens-canis. Dog’s-tvoth Violet.—This is the common 
European species, an old and very beautiful border plant. It 
grows about 6 inches high and the foliage is blotched with 
purple-brown and white. Flowers about 2 inches in diameter, 
purplish-red, rosy, lilac or white, according to the variety. It 
blooms in March and April, and may be classed amongst the 
handsomest of early Spring flowers. 
2. BL Americanum. Yellow Adder’s-tongue.—A very similar 
plant with pale yellow flowers, produced in early Spring. The 
segments of the perianth are spreading, not distinctly reflexed 
as in the common species. A native of North America. 
