AMARYLLIDE/K. 



837 



are developed. They somewhat resemble 

 the flowers of the common Colchicum, but 

 are readily distinguished by the 3, not 

 6, stamens. Tube very long, enclosed 

 halfway up in the sheathing scales. 

 Stigmas deeply cut into an elegant 

 orange fringe or tassel. 



In meadows and pastures, in south- 

 western Europe, but not nearer to us 

 than south-western France, Said, how- 

 ever, to be perfectly naturalized in the 

 meadows about Nottingham, and in 

 some other localities in central Eng- 

 land. Fl. autumn. 



Fig. 1009. 



LXXXII. AMARYLLIS FAMILY. AMARYLLIDE^. 



Rootstock bulbous, except in a very few exotic genera. Leaves 

 radical and parallel-veined. Perianth petal-like, with 6 segments. 

 Stamens 6, the anthers turned inwards. Ovary inferior or ad- 

 herent to the perianth-tube, 3-celled. Fruit a capsule, with se- 

 veral seeds, opening in 3 valves. 



A large Order, widely distributed over the globe, chiefly in dry, 

 sunny countries ; differing from the Lily family in the inferior ovary, 

 from the Iris family in the 6 stamens. 



Perianth tubular at the base, the limb spreading, with a 



cup-shaped or tubular crown at the mouth of the tube 1 . Naecissus. 

 Perianth divided to the ovary, without any crown. 



Three outer perianth- segments larger than the inner ones 2. Snowdkop. 



Perianth-segments all equal 3. Snowflake. 



Many of the most showy exotic bulbous plants grown in our gardens 

 and planthouses belong to this family, including the genera Amaryllis 

 (one species called Guernsey Lily, from having been accidentally esta- 

 blished in the gardens of that island in a half wild state), Alstroemeria, 

 Crinum, Pancratium, and others, besides the gigantic Agave amerieana, 

 commonly called Aloe, but not a congener to the true Aloes of botanists, 

 which are Liliaceous plants. 



