788 XI. AMAEYLLTDE^. 



§ , elegant, regular or irregular, solitary or umbellate, or rarely in aggregated spikes 



{Doryanthes), enclosed in spathaceous bracts. Peeiawth superior, petaloid, 6- 



phyllous, or tubular-infundibuliform ; limb 6-partite, 2-seriate, regular or ringent, 



imbricate, deciduous or marcescent, often bearing at the throat a petaloid crown 



simulating an accessory corolla {Narcissus, Pancratium, &c.) . Stamens inserted either 



on an epigynous disk or on the tube or throat of the perianth, 6, opposite to the 



divisions of the perianth, or sometimes 12-18 {Gethyllis), then very rarely all fertile ; 



filaments cohering by their dilated bases, equal and erect, or unequal and inclined ; 



anthers introrse, 2-celled, basi- or dorsi-fixed, erect or incumbent, very rarely adnate 



within to a thick connective {Chlidanthus), opening by 2 longitudinal slits, or at 



their tips. Ovaet inferior, 3-celled, rarely sub-1-celled {Calostemma) ; style simple, 



erect, or inclined with the stamens ; stigma undivided or 8-lobed ; ovules numerous, 



rarely definite {Griffinia, Hcemanthus, Calostemma, &c.), 2-seriate at the central angle 



of the cells, parietal in the 1-celled ovary, usually horizontal or pendulous, rarely 



ascending {Griffinia, Hcemanthus, Gethyllis, &c.), always anatropous. Frttit a 



loculicidal]y 3-valved capsule, or rupturing irregularly, rarely 1-2-cened by arrest, 



sometimes an indehiscent berrj'' {Gethyllis, Hcemanthus, Sternhergia, Olivia, &c.). 



Seeds shortly funicled, rarely solitary, sub-globose, angular or flat ; testa sometimes 



membranous or papery, often margined or winged ; sometimes thick and fleshy, 



or even enormously hypertrophied {Pancratium, Calostemma, &c.); raphe longitudinal, 



deep seated, sometimes fleshy ; chalaza apical ; albumen fleshy. Embkto straight, 



axile, shorter than the albumen ; radicle reaching to the hilum, centripetal or superior, 



rarely inferior. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



* Galauthus. * Sternbergia. * Crinum. * Calostemma. *Leucqjum. 



* Oporantlius. * Hseraanthus. * Pancratium. * Amaryllis. * Griffinia. 

 Eustephia. * Narcissus. Gethyllis. * Alstroenieria. * Doryanthes. 



* Olivia. * Bom area. 



AGAVES. (Cj.oselt allied Genera.) 

 * Agave. Fourcroya. 



AmartjUidece only differ from Liliacem (which see) in their inferior ovary. They approach Iridece, 

 HypoxidecB, and Hamodoracem : Iridece are separated by triandry and extrorse anthers ; Hypoxidtce by 

 habit, the texture of their flower, and their black crustaceous testa ; Hcemodoracece by their stamens, which 

 are often reduced to three, their not bulbous roots, &c. Agavece are true Amart/Uidets, without bulbs, 

 with valvate perianth-segments and a fistular style perforated at the top, and they are further remarkable 

 for their spiny fleshy leaves and their often gigantic soape, which flowers but once, and terminates in a 

 large panicle. 



AmdryllidecE mo.stly grow in temperate or tropical regions; the remarkable fact in their geographical 

 distribution is that the genera without a corona to the perianth are very rare in Europe and North 

 America, but abound in South Africa and trans-equatorial America. Several genera are confined to 

 Europe, South Africa, America, and Australia respectively. The Snowdrop {Galanthus nivalis) alone 

 reaches high latitudes. Crinum and Pancratium prefer seashores in temperate and hot regions. Agave 

 americana is now spread throughout the tropics, and even into Jlediterranean Europe and Africa, where 

 it is used for fences. 



AmaryllidecB are much sought as ornamental plants, and rival LihacecB in the magnificence of their 

 flowers and the sweet smell of several species, which are therefore used in perfumery. Their properties 



