PRELIMINARY TREATISE. 
25 
three stamens, and hexandrous with six. The triandrous into 
epigynous having the germen or ovary underneath, (viz. Irida- 
ceae, Burmanniacese and Haemodoraceae limited,) and hypogy- 
nous having the germen above, that is a portion of the present 
order Haemodoraceae, which I propose to call Wachendorfaceae. 
The hexandrous divide in the same manner into epigynous 
and hexandrous. That hexandrous epigynous division is the 
immutable line by which I limit the character of the order 
Amaryllidaceae, and the corresponding hypogynous hexan- 
drous division forms the boundary of Liliaceae. Both are 
capable of further subdivisions into suborders and sections, 
and whether those subdivisions shall be exalted or not into 
the station of orders, is a question of discretion, and not of 
fact. If it should appear that any invariable feature, which 
distinguishes the subdivisions, affords a line of demarcation 
more conspicuous than those which I have taken of hexan- 
drous or epigynous, it should be inserted in the fittest situa- 
tion to characterize and unite the plants it may include. For 
instance, if on further acquaintance with the several species, 
we should ascertain that any certain venation leaves or mode 
of inflorescence distinguishes Dioscoreae, Smilacese, and Rox- 
burghia from Bomarea and Asparagus more decidedly than 
the features which I have chosen associate them, that feature 
must constitute a division prior to either epigynous or hexan- 
drous, for the purpose of detaching them ; but the best judg- 
ment that I can form, in the want of more precise informa- 
tion, is that such features are not to be depended upon for the 
separation of high grades, and are more fit to distinguish the 
suborders and sections. 
The epigynous portion have all one triple style, which in 
some genera is tripartite and even occasionally tripartite. 
This division includes, with the plants usually called Amaryl- 
lidese, the hexandrous. part of Haemodoraceae, Hypoxideae 
closely connected with them, Fourcroya and Agave, Dioscoreae, 
Tameae and others of which the present position cannot 
possibly be maintained. This epigynous division, consti- 
tuting the order Amaryllidaceae, separates itself into 1. Ra- 
mosae, 2. Caulescentes, 3. Scapaceae, or branching, caule- 
scent, and scapaceous, meaning by a scape a succulent stalk 
supporting a spathed flower or umbel, and inarticulate below 
the spathe. Of the branching, there are but three known 
genera; the caulescent are, I believe, all schistandrous, i. e. 
having their anthers, which are bilocular or two-celled, open- 
