184 Elementary Botany 



ASPARAGEiE. 



Asparagus. Leaves small, subulate, surrounded by short 

 scarious scales; flowers small, polyphyllous; two ovules in each 

 of three cells of ovary ; style single, and three-lobed stigma. 

 The young succulent shoots are eaten. 



Ruscus, Butcher's-broom. Shrubby plant. The branches 



Fig. 315. — Leaf-like branch or phylloclade of Ruscus aculeatus: a, flower. 



are leaf-like (fig. 315), and known as phyllodades, the true leaves 

 being scales upon them. The flowers are small, sessile upon 

 the phylloclades. 



LLLIEjE. 



Allium, Garlic, Chives, &c. Flowers in an umbel, with two 

 or three thin bracts at base; flower-stalk leafy. Amongst culti- 

 vated species of this genus are the Onion (A. Cepa), Garlic 

 {A. sativa), and Leek {A. Porrum). 



Fritillaria, Fritillary. Flowers generally single on the 

 stalk, polyphyllous ; the three inner segments have each a 

 nectary at the base ; anthers attached above their bases ; style 

 three-cleft. 



Ornithogalum, Star of Bethlehem. Flowers in racemes or 

 corymbs ; perianth persistent ; a scarious bract at base of each 

 flower-stalk. 



Scilla, Squill, Bluebell, &c. Flowers blue or pink, in 

 racemes or panicles ; perianth not persistent. The medicinal 

 Squill is an exotic species of this genus. 



Tulipa, Tulip. Flowers solitary on leafy stalk; petals with- 

 out a nectary ; anthers innate ; style absent. 



