Liliacem 185 



COLCHICE^. 



Colchicum, Meadow Saffron. Flowers with long tube, so 

 that the ovary is underground, but superior ; styles three, very 

 long and thread-like. 



Amongst exotic plants of this order which are grown for 

 ornamental purposes, or are variously employed, are several 

 species of the genus Lilium, also Hyacinthus. The genus Aloe 

 yields several species, some of which are used medicinally : 

 DraccRna Draco is the famous Dragon-tree of Teneriffe ; Phor- 

 mium yields New Zealand flax ; Sanseviera yields African 

 hemp ; the buds of the Xanthorrhma, or Grass-tree of Aus- 

 tralia, are eaten like Asparagus ; and Yucca is the Adam's 

 Needle. 



AMARYLLIDACE^. 



Typical plant. Lent Lily or Daffodil {Narcissus pseudo- 

 Narcissus). Note the bulbous underground stem; membranous 

 bract; perianth with six divisions, superior; corona (not always 

 present in the order); six stamens, epiphyllous; ovary inferior,, 

 three-celled. 



The plants of this order differ from the Liliacese in possess- 

 ing an inferior ovary. 



Principal British Genera. 



Galanthus, Snowdrop. No corona ; three outer segments 

 of perianth larger than three inner ; flowers solitary. 



Leucojum, Snowflake. No corona ; all perianth divisions 

 equal ; flowers two to six together. 



Narcissus. Flowers with corona (fig. 197). 



GLUMACEjE. 



CYPERACE/E. 



Typical plant, Common Cotton Sedge {Eriophorum poly- 

 stachyum, see fig. 83). 



Note, the stem is herbaceous, solid ; leaves sheathing ; 

 the sheaths are entire, not split down the side of the stem, 

 opposite to the free lamina ; flowers arranged in a spike with 

 numerous scaly bracts {glumes), the outer of which are empty, 



