MONOCOTYLEDONES 201 



a septicidal capsule. This tribe forms the order Melanthacece 

 or ColchicacecB of this volume. 

 Tribe 3. Asparagew. — Fruit baccate. Illustrative Genera : — 

 Asparagus, Linn. ; ConvaUaria, Linn. 



By Benthatn and HooJcer this order has been divided into 

 20 tribes arranged in 3 series, and includes the Colchicacew, 

 Smilacece, and PhilesiacecE of this volume. 



Distribution and Numbers. — They are widely distributed 

 throughout the temperate, warm, and tropical regions of the 

 globe. There are over 1,860 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order frequently 

 possess important properties, but there is no great uniformity 

 in them. Some are purgative ; others emetic, diuretic, dia- 

 phoretic, stimulant, acrid, &c. Several yield astringent sub- 

 stances, and many produce valuable fibres. The bulbs, young 

 shoots, roots, and seeds of others are highly esteemed, and 

 largely consumed as articles of food and condiments. 



Order 16. PhilesiacEjE, the PhUesia Order. — Diagnosis, 

 So. — The plants of this order are closely allied to the Eox- 

 burghiaceae, from which, however, they are readily distinguished 

 by their hexamerous perianth and andrceoium, perigynous 

 stamens, parietal placentation, long style, and semi-anatropous 

 ovules. They are natives of ChiH. There are 2 genera — 

 PhUesia, Commers. ; and Lapageria. B. et P. — and 2 species. 

 In their properties they are said to resemble SarsapariUa. (See 

 S?nilax.) This order is included in Liliacece by Bentham 

 and HooTcer. 



Order 17. Colchicace^, or MelanthaobjE. — The Colchicum 

 Order. — Character. — Herbs, with bulbs, corms, tubers, or 

 fibrous roots. Flowers regular, usually hermaphrodite, or rarely 

 unisexual. Periamth inferior, white, green, or purple, 6-partite 

 or 6-leaved. Stamens 6, anthers extrorse. Ovary superior or 

 nearly so, 3-celled, with axile placentation ; style 3-partite ; 

 stigmas 3. Fruit 3-celled, 3-valved, with usually septicidaL 

 dehiscence. Seeds numerous; embryo minute, in fleshy al- 

 bumen. 



By Bentham and Hoolcer the plants of this order {see 

 Liliacece) are now placed, according to the views of Baker, in 

 the Liliacece. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or 

 rarely unisexual. Perianth inferior, 6-partite or 6-leaved. 

 Stamens 6 ; anthers extrorse. Ovary superior ; style 3-partite. 



