C. HiEMODORACE/£ 
513 
C. H/EMODORACE^E 
Perennial herbs ; stems very short or none. Leaves sessile, 
long, narrow. Flowers small, regular, 2-sexual, in racemes 
terminating slender scapes. Perianth corolla-like, bell-shaped, 
Fig. 171. Ophiopogon intekmeditts. 
6-lobed, persistent. Stamens 6, opposite the perianth-lobes and 
inserted at their base ; filaments very short, anthers 2-celled. 
Ovary wholly or only half adnate to the perianth-tube, 3-celled ; 
ovules many or only 2 in each cell ; style linear. Fruit a capsule 
or consisting of about 6 exposed, brightly coloured seeds. — 
America, Asia, Africa and Australia where they are most 
numerous. — From the Greek haima, blood, and doron, a gift ; 
application obscure. 
Perianth-lobes short, recurved. Ovules many in each cell . 1. Aletris. 
Perianth-lobes long, spreading. Ovules 2 in each cell . . 2. Ophiopogon. 
2 L 
