152 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



and petals 3 each. Stamens 6 — 9 part abortive, some having 

 fringed filaments. Fruit a 2 — 3-celled capsule. 



About 250 or more species constitute this family. They 

 are found chiefly within the tropics, and in New Holland, a 

 few in N. America, but none in Europe or Northern Asia. 

 The tuberous rooted species contain starch, but are not 

 of any economic importance. They are pretty, orna- 

 mental garden plants, some being extremely interesting, such 

 as — Tradescantia virginica, an old garden perennial with 

 white, pink, and blue flowers, the filaments of which are fur- 

 nished with a fringe of jointed hairs. The jointed appearance 

 is due to the hairs being composed of cells placed end to end, 

 and when viewed under the microscope each cell is seen to 

 have an independent circulation of sap. T. discolor^ T. rufa, 

 and T. zehrina (a pretty variegated species), I)ichorisandra 

 thyrsiflora^ Spironema fragrans, and Aneilema crispata are 

 pretty flowering hot-house plants. The most remarkable 

 plant of the family is Cochliostema Jacobianum, a native of 

 Ecuador, and which has been introduced within the last few 

 years to the gardens of Europe. It is a stemless epiphyte, 

 having numerous spreading leaves 3 — 4 feet long, and 1-i 

 inches in breadth, of an oblong -lanceolate form, and having 

 the appearance of a large-leaved Anthurium. The peduncle 

 is more than a foot high, bearing a panicle of blue flowers, 

 each flower being more than 2 inches in diameter. Much of 

 the pecuKarity of the plant rests in the character of its 

 stamens, which are enclosed in a kind of hood. 



The Hellebore Family. 



(MELANTHACEiE. ) 



Bulbo, rhizo, or phyllocorms. Leaves grass-like, or 

 broad, in tufts. Flowers in spikes or racemes, or soHtary. 

 Sepals and petals 6, uniform, free, or united at the base. 

 Nearly 150 species are enumerated as belonging to this 

 family, the greater number being natives of temperate coun- 

 tries in both hemispheres. They are widely distributed, 



