852 



XXXVIII, MELANTHACE^. 



conformed to tlie outer, rarely hollowed into a nectariferous sac {Tricyrtis, Melaur. 

 thium, Androcymhium) ; the claw often furnislied witli pores or glandular pits 

 [JJvularia, Burchardia, Ornithoglossum) ; sestivation imbricate {Colchicum, Tofieldia, 

 Veratrum), valvate (Tricyrtis), or sub-valvate {Tofieldia nepalensis) . Stamens 6, or 

 very rarely 3 [Scoliopus], inserted at the base, or above the claw of the perianth- 

 leaflets, very rarely hypogynous (JJvularia), sometimes mingled with staminodes 

 (Kreysigia); filaments filiform, free, often persistent; anthers 2-celled, or falsely 

 1-celled (Veratrum), usually dorsifixed, very rarely basifixed (Helonias), extrorse in 

 bud, and versatile after flowering, or introrse (Tofieldia, Bulhocodium, Colchicum, 

 Amianthium) ; cells linear (Colchicum, Uvularia, Tricyrtis, Ledebouria, &c.), or reni- 

 form, or didymous (Amianthium, Veratrum, Melanthium, Helonias, &c.) ; dehiscence 

 longitudinal, rarely transverse (Amianthium). Ovabt superior, or very rarely semi- 

 inferior (Zygadenus, ? Tofieldia, ? Veratrum), 3-celled and formed of 3 carpels, 

 rarely simple and 1-celled (Monocaryum); styles 3, opposite to the ovary-cells, 

 distinct and papillose-stigmatiferous along their inner edge, or more or less con- 

 nate below, and terminated by three stigmas ; ovules inserted at the inner a,ngle 

 of the cells, 1-2-many-seriate, usually numerous, anatropous or serai-anatropous. 

 Feuit usually capsular, membranous or coriaceous, 3-celled, sometimes of 3 follicles, 

 sometimes opening in three semi-placentiferous loculicidal valves (Ornithoglossum, 

 Anguillaria, Tricyrtis, &c.), rarely sub-baccate, and opening at the top (JJvularia), 

 very rarely an indehiscent berry (Drapiezia). Seeds usually numerous, globose, 

 angular, oblong or compressed ; testa, thin, membranous, soft and suberose, or black 

 and brilliant (Disporum); albumen copious, coriaceous or cartilaginous. Embbto 

 included, small ; radicle near or distant from the hilum. 



Tribe I. VEEATREM. 



Stem or scape leafy. Flowers axillary, solitary, or racemed or spiked. Styles 

 short, usually distinct. Perianth leaves free, sessile, or very shortly clawed, some- 

 times united at the base. Ovary free or semi-inferior. 



''^ PRINCIPAL GENERA. - 



Tofieldia. Amianthium. Schelhammera. * Veratrum. Zygadenus. 



* Uvularia. Asagraya. Burchardia. * Tricyrtis. * Xerophyllum. 



Ornithoglossum. * Disporum. * Helonias. Anguillaria. Scoliopus. 



Schaenocaulon. Melanthium. 



Tribe II. COLGHIGE^. 



Stemless. Flowers springing from a subterranean bulb. Perianth tubular, 

 or with long clawed segments, naked or crested. Ovaries free ; styles fragile, 

 distinct, or more or less coherent. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 * Colchicum, * Merendera. * Bulbocodium, 



