782 X. lEIDB^. 



the largest, persistent. Stamens 6, inserted at the base of the segments ; filaments 

 dilated, vaulted or cucuUate at the top ; anthers introrse ; cells 2, distant, parallel, 

 adnate to the cavitj of the filaments, free at the top, straight or incurved, dehiscence 

 longitudinal. Ovakt inferior, 1-celled or incompletely 3-celled; placentas 3, 

 parietal, nerviform or 2-lobed; style short, thick; stigma orbicular or depressed, 

 •with 3 radiating emarginate or bifid lobes ; ovules numerous, several-seriate, sub- 

 ascending and anatropous, or horizontal and semi-anatropous. Berbt umbilicate 

 by the persistent limb of the perianth, 1-celled, or incompletely 3-celled. Seeds 

 ovoid, angular or lunate ; testa coriaceous, striate, easily separable from the mem- 

 branous endopleura ; albumen fleshy. Embeto excessively small, ovoid, included 

 in the albumen, near the basilar hilum, or distant from the ventral hilum. 



GENEKA. 

 * Tacca. * Ataccia. 



Lindley has placed Taceacees, Dioseorets, and Smilacece in his class Dictyogens, so called on account ot 

 the reticulated nerves of the leaves, which recall the nervation of Dicotyledons, which they besides 

 resemble in the structure of the stem, which presents flbro-vasoular bundles arranged with tolerable 

 regularity around a central pith. Taccacece differ from DioscorecB in habit, conformation of the stamens, 

 and 1-celled ovary. They have an affinity with Aroideee (Dieffenhachia, Dracuncidus, Amorphophalhis), 

 principally founded on the nature of the leaves, and R. Brown considers them intermediate between that 

 family and Aristoloohieee.^ 



Taceacees inhabit mountain forests of Asia, Africa, Oceania (and Guiana ? according to Planchon). 

 Tacca pinnatifida is principally found at the mouth of damp and shady valleys of the Oceanic Islands ; it 

 is cultivated for its starchy tubers, which furnish the islanders with a sort of Arrowroot. The Tahitians 

 prepare from the floral scapes of the Tacca a very white and shining straw, with which they form hats 

 and coronets with much skill and taste. 



X. IRIDEuE. 



(Ensat^, L. Ker. — Ieides, Jussieu. — Ikide^e, Br. — lEiDACEis, Lindl.) 



Floweks 5 . Peeianth superior, petaloid, Q-merous, 2-seriate, Stamens 3, 

 opposite to the outer perianth-segments ; anthees extrorse. Ovaet inferior, of 3 many- 

 ovuled cells ; ovules anatropous. Capsule loculicidally 3-valved. Seeds albuminous. 

 — Stem herbaceous. Leaves equitant or sheathing, ensiform or li/near. 



Perennial heebs with a tuberous or bulbous rhizome, rarely with fibrous roots, 

 very rarely sufFrutescent {Witsewia), glabrous, sometimes pubescent or velvety. 

 Scape central, jointed or not, simple or branched, sometimes nearly 0. Leaves 

 usually all radical, equitant, distichous, ensiform or linear, angular, entire, flat, 

 or folded longitudinally, the cauline alternate, sheathing. Flowbes ^ , regular 

 or irregular, terminal, in a spike corymb or loose panicle, rarely solitary, each 

 furnished with 2 (rarely more) spathaceous bracts, usually scarious ; inflorescence 

 with a double sub-foliaceous bract. Peeianth superior, petaloid, tubular, O-fid 

 or -partite, regular or sub-2-labiate ; segments 2-seriate, equal, or the inner smallest, 



• They are hardly separable as an order from Burmanniacece. — ^Ed. 



