347 
Alliance II. LILIALES. 
Essential Character. — Calyx and Corolla distinct, but similar in degree of deve- 
lopement, both being petaloid. Embryo in the axis of albumen. 
Order CCXLVII. PONTEDERACE^. 
PoNTEDEREiE, Kunth in Humb. et Bonpl. N. G. 1. 211. (1815) ; Agardh Aph. 169. (1823) ; 
Hooker in Bot. Mag. 2932. (1829). — Pontederace.®, Ach. Rich. Nouv. Eltm. ed. 
4. 427. (1828). 
Essential Character. — Perianth tubular, coloured, 6-parted, more or less irregular, 
with a circinate aestivation. Stamens 3 or 6, unequal, arising from the calyx. Ovary supe- 
rior, or rarely half inferior, 3-celled, many-seeded; style 1; stigma simple. Capsule 3- 
celled, 3-valved, with loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds indefinite, attached to a central axis ; 
hilum small ; embryo orthotropous, in the axis of somewhat mealy albumen. — Aquatic or 
rnar^/i-plants. Leaves sheathing at the base, with parallel veins. Flowers either solitary, 
or in spikes or umbels, spathaceous, frequently blue. 
Affinities. These were referred to CommelinacezE by Salisbury, and are 
considered nearly related to that order by Acbille Richard, who, however, 
separates them, suggesting their being referable to Liliacese. It is not im- 
probable that the nearest relation of Pontederaceae is with Asphodeleae, (to 
which Link actually refers Pontedera) and Butomaceae, from both which they 
are known by their irregular flowers roUing inwards after expansion, indepen- 
dently of more minute characters derived from the structure of the seeds and 
fruit. Hooker, who has given an excellent figure of Pontedera azurea, states 
that each fibre of the roots has a calyptrate covering at the extremity, similar 
to that found on the roots of the Duck- weed. 
Geography. Water-plants found exclusively in North and South Ame- 
rica, the East Indies, and tropical Africa. 
Properties. Plants with neat deep-green leaves and showy flowers; of 
no known use. 
GENERA. 
Pontedera, L. Leptanthus, Michx. 
Monochoria, Presl. Heteranthera, P. de B. 
Order CCXLVIII. MELANTHACE^. The Colchicum Tribe. 
Melanthe^, Batsch. Tab.Aff. (1802). — Colchicace^, Dec. FI. Fr. 3. 192. (1815) ; Ess. 
Mid. 298. (1816) ; Bartl. Ord.Nat. 51. (1830). — Melanthacea;, R. Broivn. Prodr. 
272. (1810) ; Lindl. Synops. 264. (1829) ; DC. and Duby, 473. (1828). — Vera- 
TREiE, Salisb.in Hort. Trans. 1. 328. (1812) ; Agardh Aphor. 166. (1823). — Meren- 
derjE, Mirb. according to De Candolle. — Paride^, Link Handb. 277. (1829). — 
TRiLLiACEiE, DC. Ess. Mdd. 294. (1816). 
Essential Character. — Perianth inferior, petaloid, in 6 pieces, or, in consequence of 
the cohesion of the claws, tubular ; the pieces generally involute in aestivation. Stamens 
6 ; anthers mostly turned outwards. Ovary 3-celled, many-seeded ; style trifid or 3- 
parted ; stigmas undivided. Capsule generally divisible into 3 pieces ; sometimes with a 
loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds with a membranous testa ; albumen dense, fleshy. R. Br. 
— Roots fibrous, sometimes fascicled. Rhizoma sometimes fleshy. Leaves sheathing at 
the base, with parallel veins. Flowers either arising from under the surface of the“ground. 
