202 



MANUAL OF BOTANY 



Fruit a septicidal or very rarely a loculicidal capsule, 3-celled, 

 3-valved, membranous. Seeds numerous, albuminous. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Generally diffused, but most 

 abundant in Europe, North America, and the northern parts of 

 Asia. Illustrative Genera : — Colchicum, Linn. ; Tofieldia, Hvd- 

 son. There are about 150 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order are almost 

 universally poisonous, owing to the presence of powerful alka- 

 loids. But in proper doses several are valuable medicines, pos- 



FiG. 957. 



Fig. 958. 



Fia. 959. 



Fio. 960. 



Fig. 957. Flowering plant of the Colchicum or Meadow Saffron {ColcJiicum 



autumnale). Fig. 958. Diagram of the flower of the eame, with six 



divisions to the perianth arranged in two whorls, six stamens, and a 



3-celled ovary. Fig. 959. Transverse section of the capsule. Fig. 



960. Yertical section of the seed. 



sessing emetic, pm-gative, diuretic, acrid, and narcotic proper- 

 ties. 



Orderly. Smilaceje, the Sarsaparilla Order. — Charac- 

 ter. — Serbs or shrubs, more or less climbing. Leaves petiolate, 

 net-veined, articulated. Flowers regular, unisexual and dice- 

 cious, or hermaphrodite. Perianth inferior, 6-partite, with all 

 its divisions alike. Stamens 6, perigynous or rarely hypogynous ; 

 anthers introrse. Ovary superior, 3- 5- or rarely 1-celled, with 

 orthotropous ovules ; stigmas 3. Fruit baccate, few or many- 

 seeded. Seeds with a minute embryo, in hard albumen. This 



