514 
C. HiEMODORACEiE 
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, 3-8x|~i 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 \ 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. Racemes lengthening to 4 in. or 
more in fruit ; capsule globose, opening by 3 valves ; seeds many, 
minute. 
The Chor, MaraH 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 xJ-J 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 J 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. 171.) 
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. IRIDACE^E 
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 segments 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. 
