LILIACEiE. 



59 



DIANELLA. 



Gen. Char. {Hexandria Monogynia.) Divisions of flower six, 

 spreading ; filaments thickened at the end ; berry three-celled, 

 many-seeded. 



The name is a diminution of Diana, as this genus is found 

 in forests. Two species, ensi folia and nemorosa, from the East 

 Indies, require the heat of the stove, but ccerulea, revoluta, 

 congesta, Iczvis, strumosa, longifolia, and divaricata, may be 

 introduced into the greenhouse; most of them have blue 

 flowers, which they produce from May to August. 



PHOEMIUM. (Flax Lily.) 



Gen. Char. {Hexandria Monogynia.) Divisions of flower six, 

 the three inner the longest ; stamens ascending and protruding ; 

 capsule oblong, three-cornered ; seeds compressed. 



Named from the Greek for basket, as the leaves are used 

 in the manufacture of baskets and matting. P. tenax is 

 the only species, and is a native of New Zealand, where it is 

 extensively used by the natives instead of flax ; the plant is 

 handsome and resembles an Agave in appearance ; the leaves 

 are Iris-like, and the flowers are orange ; it is a handsome 



