514 
C. ILEMODORACEiE 
1. ALETRIS. From the Greek aletron, meal ; referring to the 
powdery appearance of some species. — Asia, N. America. 
Aletris nepalensis, Hook. f . ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 264. A small, 
scapose herb. Leaves radical, grass-like, 3-8 x J-J in., nerves 
prominent. Scapes 4-12 in., tomentose on the upper half and 
bearing 1 or 2 short leaves near the top ; raceme short ; bracts 
linear, erect. Flowers white or pale pink. Perianth l in. long ; 
lobes short, obtuse, recurved. Lower half of ovary adnate to the 
perianth-tube ; ovules many in each cell ; style shorter than the 
stamens, 3-parted at the top. Eacemes lengthening to 4 in. or 
more in fruit ; capsule globose, opening by 3 valves ; seeds many, 
minute. 
The Ch'or, Marali and perhaps Huttoo ; June-August.— Temperate and 
alpine Himalaya. 
2. OPHIOPOGON. From the Greek ophis, a serpent, and pogon, 
a beard : application obscure. — Central and East Asia. 
Ophiopogon intermedius, Don ; FI. Br. Ind. vi. 269. Stems 
very short, the base usually clothed with the remains of old leaves. 
Leaves tufted, linear, 6-24 x in., margins very minutely toothed. 
Scapes glabrous, leafless, about as long as the leaves ; raceme 
2-5 in. ; bracts lanceolate. Flowers white, usually tinged with 
lilac, often in pairs. Perianth \ in. long, lobed to the base ; lobes 
in 2 series, obtuse, spreading. Ovary wholly adnate to the perianth- 
tube ; ovules 2 in each cell ; style longer than the stamens, 
minutely 3-lobed at the top. The fruit is peculiar in that the 
seeds burst through the ovary before they mature ; when ripe the 
fruit consists of about 6 berry-like, bright blue seeds resting on the 
base of the withered perianth. (Fig. 17L) 
Simla, common ; June-August. — Temperate Himalaya. — Khasia, Deccan, 
Ceylon. 
A variable plant as regards the size of the leaves and flowers. Often called 
the Lily of the Valley in India. 
CL IRIDACEAE 
Perennial herbs. Leaves narrow, folded lengthwise and alter- 
nately overlapping, blade flat, sword-like. Flowers 2-sexual, showy. 
Perianth superior, base tubular ; limb 6-parted, petal-like, the seg-. 
ments in two dissimilar, imbricate series. Stamens 3, opposite 
the outer segments. Ovary inferior, 3-celled ; ovules many ; style 
simple, bearing 3 large, petal-like, recurved, stigmatic lobes. 
Capsule 3-valved ; seeds numerous.— Chiefly temperate. regions. 
