VIII. BUEMANNIACE^. 779 



Annual or perennial hekbs, terrestrial or parasitic (?), very weak, green 

 wMtisli or pink, aphyllous, rarely sarmentose and bearing leaves. Flowers g , in 

 a 2-fid many-flowered cyme, or 1-2-flowered, very various in colour, and bracteate. 

 Perianth superior, petaloid, tubular, tube regular or gibbous ; limb of 6 2-seriate 

 segments, the inner smallest, the outer sometimes very long [Ophiomeris) . Stamens 

 inserted at the top of the tube or on the throat of the perianth ; filaments distinct or 

 monadelphous (TMsmia); anthers with 2 disconnected cells, introrse; connective 

 dilated, various in form. Ovart inferior, 1-celled with 3 parietal placentas, or 

 3-celled with 3 axile placentas ; style simple, springing from the thickened top of 

 the ovary ; stigmMs 3, 2-3-fid ; ovules numerous. Capsule crowned by the marces- 

 cent perianth, terete or 3-angled, 3-winged, membranous; sometimes l-celled, 

 opening at the top or on one side into three semi-placentiferous valves ; sometimes 

 3-celled, opening laterally between its angles by transverse slits, or a pyxidium. 

 Seeds numerous, small, oblong, some truncate and umbilicate at the end, the others 

 pointed ; testa lax. Embryo minute, undivided, cellular. 



Burmanniacew form a small well-marked group, from their parasitism and floral 

 structure, and are connected on the one hand with Taccacece, and on the other with 

 AristolocMeoe, as well as with the Rhizanthous plants allied to the latter. Around 

 BurmannieoB proper, various other genera may be grouped as sections of the Order as 

 follows : — 



Burmannie^ proper. — Terrestrial plants, green and leafy, or discoloured and 

 aphyllous. Perianth of 6 segments, the 3 outer winged. Stamens 3, opposite 

 to the inner segments. Ovary 3-celled; stigmas 3. Burmannia, Gonyanthes, 

 Nephrocodum. 



Apterantheje. — Discoloured aphyllous plants. Perianth persistent or cadu- 

 cous, wingless. Stamens 3. Ovary l^celled. Apteria, Dictyostegia, Gymnosiphon, 

 Benitzia, Cymiocarpus. 



Thismie^. — Discoloured aphyllous plants. Perianth regular or gibbous, wing- 

 less. Stamens 6, monadelphous or free. Ovary 1-celled. Capsule opening trans- 

 versely. Thismia, Ophiomeris. 



Stenomeride^. — Green leafy sarmentose plants. Leaves cordate, resembling 

 those of Dioscorew or Smilax. Perianth with 6 divisions. Stamens 6. Ovary 

 3-celled. Capsule linear, elongated, membranous, triquetrous. Stenomeris. 



Allied Tribe. Triuride^.' — Pale monoecious plants. Perianth 6-merous. 

 Stamens 6. Ovaries numerous, free on a rounded receptacle, 1-ovuled; style 

 lateral and basilar, resembling the carpels and gynophore of a Strawberry. 

 Sciaphila, Hexuris, Triuris. 



Burmanniacem have been placed near Orchidece by seyeral botanists on account of their undivided 

 embryo, reduced to a little cellular mass, -which appears to be entirely formed of the tigellus. They are 

 allied to Iridece by their 6-merous 2-seriate perianth, their triandrous androecium, anthers with longi- 



' Trim-idem have little affinity with Burmanmacecs, and belong to the Apocarpous series of Monocotyledoni 

 (which see), — En. 



