618 GILLIESIACE.E — PONTEDEEIACEjE — XYRIDACEiE. 



lent, 3- 4- or 5- celled. Seeds 00 ; embryo minute, in fleshy albumen. 

 The order may be considered as a tribe of Smilaceae. It sometimes 

 receives the name of Paridese. — Natives of the temperate parts of 

 Europe, Asia, and America. Some of them are more or less acrid, 

 others are narcotic. The rhizome of Trillium cermcum is used as an 

 emetic. The juice of the berries mixed with alum gives a blue 

 colouring matter. Paris guadrifolia, Herb Paris, is narcotic. There 

 are about 10 known genera, and upwards of 30 species. Examples — 

 Trillium, Paris. 



Order 201. — G-illiesiacb^, the Gilliesia Family. {Mono-Perigyn.) 

 Perianth 6-parted, sometimes 5-parted by cohesion of two of the 

 pieces, in a double row ; the outer, petaloid or herbaceous ; the 

 inner, smaller, and more coloured ; sestivation twisted. Stamens in a 

 double series ; outer whorl sterile, in the form of a 6-toothed urceolate 

 body, or of scale-like bodies, one of which forms a sort of labellum ; 

 inner whorl of six stamens, of which three are sometimes sterile. 

 Ovary superior, 3-ceUed ; style 1 ; stigma simple. Fruit a 3-celled, 

 3-valved capsule, with loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds numerous, at- 

 tached to the axis ; spermoderm black and brittle ; embryo curved 

 in the midst of fleshy albumen. — Herbs with tunicated bulbs, grass- 

 like leaves, and umljellate spathaceous flowers. Natives of Chili. 

 Their properties unknown. The description of the flower is in 

 accordance with Arnott's view, and differs from that of Lindley, who 

 considers the perianth as bracts, and the outer verticil of stamens as 

 the perianth. There are 2 genera and 5 species. Examples — 

 GiUiesia, Miersia. 



Order 202. — .Pontedeeiacb^, the Pontederia Family. [Mono- 

 Perigyn) Perianth tubular, coloured, 6-parted, more or less irregu- 

 lar ; aestivation circinate. Stamens 3-6, perigynous ; anthers introrse. 

 Ovary free, or slightly adherent, 3-celled ; ovules numerous, anatropal ; 

 style 1 ; stigma simple. Fruit a 3-celled, 3-valved • capsule, with 

 loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds 00, attached to a central axis ; testa 

 membranous ; hilum small ; embryo straight, in the axis of somewhat 

 mealy albumen ; radicle next the hilum. — Aquatic or marsh plants 

 with sheathing, parallel-veined leaves, which are sometimes cordate or 

 sagittate, and have inflated petioles. The flowers are spathaceous. 

 They are natives of North and South America, East Indies, and 

 Africa. Their properties are unimportant. There are 6 genera, 

 according to Lindley, and 30 species. Examples — Pontederia, Lep- 

 tanthus. 



Order 203. — Xyeidace^, the Xyris Family. {Mono-Perigyn) 

 Perianth 6-parted, in two verticils-; the outer glumaoeous, the inner 

 petaloid. Stamens 6, 3 fertile, inserted into the claws of the inner 

 perianth ; anthers extrorse. Ovary single, 1-celled ; ovules 00, 

 orthotropal, attached to parietal placentas ; style trifid ; stigmas 



