304 THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
hemisphere. Most of the genera are strikingly beautiful, the 
number and brilliancy of the varieties in the Gladiolii by cultiva- 
tion alone being almost unexampled. 
Among the interesting species which constitute the genus Jris 
we may mention the [ris Germanica (Fig. 358); the Tris Forentina, 
the rhizome of which produces the violet-scented orris root, and 
gives out a very decided odour of violets, which causes it to be 
used extensively in preparing perfumery. The cultivated Saffron, 
Crocus sativas, isa native species, the stigmata of which form a 
crest containing a very odorous volatile oil united with a bitter 
principle ; it is employed in medicine, and also in painting. The 
GuapIoLEs have bi-labiate flowers of great brilliancy; they are 
chiefly natives of Southern Africa. : 
Tieripia Pavonta, so called from its spotted and brilliantly 
coloured flowers, is another of the Bulbous plants for which we 
are indebted to tropical America. It is a native of Mexico, 
remarkable at once for its large size, originality of form, and lively 
colours. ' 
ORCHIDACER. 
Passing over the Musacr%, so celebrated for the nutritive ge 
yielded by their fruit, known in tropical countries as ee 
and bananas; the ZinziBERacm, distinguished for the beauty . oe 
their floral appendages, as in Hedychium coronarium, and for oe 
rich and glowing colours of the bracts in Curcuma Rosceana—the - 
are still more valued for the aromatic stimulating poe 4 
their rhizome ;—the Maranracea, valued for the fecula whie 7 
abounds in the rhizome and fleshy corms of Canna and ers as 
other genera,—we reach the interesting family of ORCHIDS. ~ 8 
ORCHIDACE® are a group of Epigynous Endogens, with one ° : 
three stamens, consolidated with the style into a central eer = 
and the seeds without albumen. They are herbaceous sere 
shrubs, always perennial, and they occur in all parts of the wor: In 
but in the warmer latitudes they occur in countless numbe 
the forests of tropical America, in the Indian Archipelage, ade 
India and other hot countries, they generally are ep!P ee 
and in 
2 
attaching themselves to the branches of trees, stones, and TOCK* "— 
