448 
XCIV. LII.IACEiE. 
\_Ruscus. 
distinct. Anthers peltate. Ovary 3-celled, with 2 ovules in 
each cell. Stigmas 3, reflexed. Berry globose, 3-celled. — 
Name: aarrapayoi;, in Greek, from oirapaocnu, to tear; many of 
the species being armed with spines. 
1. A. officinalis L. ( common Asparagus ) ; unarmed, stem her- 
baceous mostly erect terete very much branched, leaves se- 
taceous fasciculate flexible, peduncles jointed in the middle. 
E. B. t. 339. 
In several parts of the west and south-west coasts of England. On 
an island, thence called “ Asparagus Island Kynance Cove, Corn- 
wall. Giltar Point, Pembrokeshire; south-west coast of Anglesea. 
Links near Gosford, Scotland. If. 6 — 8.— Rhizome creeping, 
throwing up numerous scaly erect or rarely procumbent stems, which, 
when cultivated, are the Asparagus of our tables. Flowers drooping, j 
greenish-white, often imperfect, with obsolete styles. Berries bright 
red. 
2. Ruscus Linn. Butcher’s Broom. 
Dioecious. Perianth spreading, of 6 sepals, persistent. Fi- ■, 
laments combined in a tube. — Barren fi. Anthers 3 or 6, reni- 
form, placed on the summit of the stamen-tube. — Fertile fl. 
Anthers 0. Style 1 , surrounded by the tube of the sterile sta- 
mens. Stigma capitate. Ovary 1- (or 3-?) celled; ovules 2 
collateral in each cell. Berry usually 1-seeded. — Name, an- 
ciently bruscus; from beuskelen, Celtic, meaning box-holly. 
1. R. aculeatus L. ( common B.) ; stem rigid branched, leaves 
ovate*acuminate very rigid and pungent bearing the solitary 
flowers on their upper surface. E. B. t. 560. 
Bushy and heathy places and woods, especially in a gravelly soil. 
Abundant in the south of England and Jersey. Bothwell woods, 
and Skeldon woods near Ayr; but not truly wild in Scotland. h- 
3, 4. — Flowers minute, white, arising from the disk of the evergreen 
leaves. Berry red. 
3. Convallaria Linn. Lily of the Valley. 
Flowers perfect. Perianth deciduous, shortly campanulate, 
deeply 6-cleft, segments recurved. Stamens 6, distinct, inserted 
into the very base of the perianth. Anthers oblong-linear, 
pointed. Ovary 3-celled, with 4 — 6 ovules in a double row in 
each cell. Style short, thick. Stigma 1, obtuse. Berry 3- 
celled, with 1 (or rarely 2) seeds in each cell. — Flowers race- 
mose, with a membranous bractea at the base of the pedicels. 
— Name: convallis , a valley ; from the locality of this pla,nt. 
1. C. majdlis L. ( sweet-scented L.): E. B. t. 1035. 
Woods and coppices, particularly in a light soil. Frequent in 
England; more rare, if indigenous, in Scotland. V-. 5, 6 
