DIOSCOEEACE^ — AMAEYLLIDACBjE. 611 



leaves, and small, spiked, bracteated flowers. Natives chiefly of 

 tropical countries ; a few only found in temperate regions. There are 

 6 genera, according to authors, and 100 species. Examples — Dioscorea, 

 Tamus. 



Although farinaceous matter exists in the tubers of many species, 

 yet there is a prevalent acridity throughout the order. Various 

 species of Dioscorea, as D. alata, sativa, and aculeata, produce the 

 tubers called Yams, which are used in warm countries as a substitute 

 for the potato. The growth of yams is very remarkable. A tuber 

 of D. alata, 1 lb. in weight, was planted at Madras in June, and 

 lifted at the end of nine months, when the weight was found to be 

 27^ lbs. Testadinaria Elephantvpes is the Tortoise plant of the Cape, 

 or Elephant's-foot, so called on account of its peculiar shortened and 

 thickened stem (p. 65). Tamus communis. Black Bryony, is common 

 in hedges in England. It produces red succulent fruit, and has a 

 large root, which is acrid. This acridity does not extend to the young 

 suckers, which may be eaten with impunity. The acridity of the order 

 sometimes manifests itself in purgative qualities. 



Order 194. — Amaeyllidaoe^, the Amaryllis Family. {Mono- 

 Epigyn.) (Fig. 275, p. 186.) Perianth petaloid, regular, 6-cleft, the 

 outer segments overlapping the inner. Staniens 6, inserted in the 

 perianth, sometimes cohering by the dilated bases, and forming a kind 

 of cup ; occasionally there are additional sterUe stamens, which some- 

 times form a corona above the tube of the perianth ; anthers introrse. 

 Ovary inferior, 3-celled ; ovules 00, anatropal ; style 1 ; stigma 3- 

 lobed. Fruit either a 3-celled, 3-valved capsule, with loculicidal 

 dehiscence, or baccate. Seed with a thin or thick, or black and 

 brittle spermoderm ; albumen fleshy ; embryo nearly straight ; radicle 

 next the hilum. — Usually bulbous plants, sometimes with fibrous 

 roots ; leaves ensiform, with parallel veins ; flowers spathaceous ; stem 

 sometimes woody and tall. Natives chiefly of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 but species are found in Europe, East and West Indies, South America, 

 and Australia. Lindley enumerates 68 genera and 400 species, and 

 he divides theminto 4 tribes : — 1. Amaryllese, bulbs, flowers without 

 a corona. 2. Narcissese, bulbs, flowers with a corona. 3. Alstro- 

 meriese, fibrous roots, outer segments of the perianth different in form 

 from the inner. 4. Agavese, fibrous roots, both segments of the 

 perianth alike. Examples — ^Amaryllis, Galanthus, Crinum, Narcissus, 

 Alstromeria, Agave. 



The bulbs of many plants of this order have narcotic poisonous 

 qualities. Some of theni act as emetics, others are used in the pre- 

 paration of a kind of intoxicating spirit. The tough fibres of some 

 are used for flax. The root of Hmmanthus toxicarius is poisonous. 

 The flowers of the Daffodil (Narcissus pseudo-iia/rcissus) are also said to 

 be poisonous. The fibres of Agave americana, American Aloe, constitute 



