Liliaced 183 



LILIACE^. 



Typical plant, Bluebell {Sdlla nutans, or Agraphis nutans). 



Note, the plant is herbaceous (the Butcher's-broom is the 

 only British plant which is shrubby, but exotics may be shrubs 

 or trees) ; perianth inferior, polyphyllous (it may be gamo- 

 phyllous), six divisions (in Herb Paris there are eight) ; stamens 

 six (eight in Herb Paris) ; pistil syncarpous, three-celled, 

 with axile placenta and numerous ovules (four-celled in Herb 

 Paris). 



This large and important order is widely distributed through- 

 out the world. It is divided into several sub-orders, some of 

 which are sometimes raised to the dignity of orders. 



The British genera may be grouped into the five following 

 sub-orders : — 



TRiLLiDEiE. Leaves net-veined ; styles distinct ; fruit a 

 berry. 



(All the other sub-orders have parallel-veined leaves.) 



CoNVALLARiE^. Frult a berry ; styles united ; testa of 

 seed membranous. 



AsparagejE. Fruit a berry ; styles united ; testa of seed 

 hard and blacL 



Lilies. Fruit a capsule ; styles united. 



CoLCHiCE^. Fruit a capsule ; styles distinct. 



Principal British Plants. 



TRILLlDEiE. 



Paris, Herb Paris. A remarkable plant with four net- 

 veined leaves upon a short stem, and the parts of the flower 

 arranged in fours, thus resembhng Dicotyledons \ but otherwise 

 a monocotyledonous plant. 



CONVALLARIE^. 



Polygonatum, Solomon's Seal. Flowers axillary, drooping ; 

 perianth gamophyllous, shortly six-cleft, tubular. 



Conmllaria, Lily of the Valley. Differs from last in flower- 

 stalk being leafless ; perianth campanulate. 



