BOTANY. 9 
57, fig. 4), known as Meadow saffron or autumnal crocus, has important 
medicinal properties. The various parts of the plant referred to by the 
letters will be readily intelligible. 
Sub-order 3. Melanthiew. Perianth mostly persistent or withering away ; 
the sepals distinct, or the claws rarely united. Styles three, separate. 
Fruit a three-celled, three-partible or septicidal pod. Flowers frequently 
unisexual. Rhizome fibrous. The most important genera are Melanthium, 
Veratrum, Helonias, Tofieldia, &c. Cevadilla, an important medicinal 
substance, is obtained from Helonias officinalis, and Veratrum sabadilla. 
Veratrum album furnishes the white hellebore of the ancients ; this, with some 
other species of Veratrum, yields veratrine. Pl. 57, fig. 5, Veratrum album. 
OrperR 25. Litaces, the Lily Family. Flowers usually bisexual. 
Perianth colored, in two rows, regular, with six divisions. Stamens six, 
perigynous, inserted into the segments of the perianth; anthers introrse. 
Ovary free, three-celled; ovules 00; style one; stigma simple or three- 
lobed. Fruit three-celled, either succulent or dry and capsular. Seeds 
numerous, packed one above the other in one or two rows; embryo in the 
axis of fleshy albumen. Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with bulbs, or tubers, or 
arborescent stems, or rhizomes; leaves not articulated, usually narrow, with 
parallel veins. They are found both in temperate and tropical climates. In 
warm regions some of them are arborescent, as in the case of Draczena; others 
are very succulent, as species of Aloe. 
Sub-order 1. Aphyllanthee. Uabit rush-like; with membranous imbri- 
cated bracts. The species of the sub-order characterize the vegetation of 
New South Wales. 
Sub-order 2. Aloinee or Aloes tribe. Stem usually developed, arborescent, 
leaves succulent. Examples: Sanseviera, Aloe, and Yucca. The drug 
_ ealled Aloes, is the thickened juice of various species of Aloe, as A. vulgaris, 
spicata. socotrina, &e. Pl. 56, fig. 6, a-d, Aloe arborescens. 
Sub-order 3. Asparagee. Fruit a few-seeded berry, two-to three-celled ; 
seeds amphitropous, orthotropous, or anatropous. Stem usually fully 
developed, arborescent, in some cases branched, leaves often coriaceous and 
permanent. Examples: Asparagus, Draczna, Smilacina, Clintonia, &c. 
Pl. 57, fig. 1, Draczena draco, a species of Dracena from the East Indies, 
from which dragon’s blood is obtained ; a, a very old tree; 5, extremity of a 
branch with flowers; ¢, a flower on a larger scale; d, expanded flowers ; e, a 
stamen ; f, pistil; g, branch with fruit; h, a seed; 2, vertical section of do. 
A species from Brazil, D. brasiliensis, is figured on pl. 56, fig. 5, a-e. 
Sub-order 4. Convallariee, Lily of the valley tribe. Stem developed as 
a rhizome or tuber. Ex. Convallaria. 
Sub-order 5. Anthericee. Not bulbous, roots fascicled, or fibrous, leaves 
not coriaceous. nor persistent. Examples: Asphodelus, Anthericum. 
Sub-order 6. WScillee. Bulbous, with the testa black and brittle. Scape 
simple. Perianth six-sepalled or six-parted. Examples: Ornithogalum, Scilla, 
Allium. The bulb of Scilla esculenta or Squamash, is eaten by the Western 
Indians. Allium sativum is garlic; A. cepa the onion. 
Sub-order 7. Hermerocallidee. Bulbous plants, with a tubular perianth ; 
79 
