100 ELEMENTARY BOTANY 
AukeAc A comparison of these plants indicates the 
teristics of | characteristics of the Order, namely : 
eee 1. Underground stems, bulbs or rhizomes. 
2. Leaves usually radical, and generally parallel-veined. 
3. Flowers regular; floral leaves usually three or multiples 
of three. 
4, Gynecium superior. This feature at once marks off the 
Liliacez from the two other Monocotyledonous Orders with 
which it may be confused: the Amaryllidaceex, to which 
Snowdrop and Narcissus belong, and the Inridaceze (Iris, 
Gladiolus, etc.), both of which have an inferior ovary 
5. Fruit, a capsule, or berry. 
Special Herb Paris, a local plant, has net-veined leaves. 
Plants. The perianth consists of two whorls of four (not 
three) leaves each, the inner pinkish ones being more slender 
than the outer green ones; stamens eight, carpels four. Herb 
Paris may also have five, instead of four, 
floral leaves in each whorl (Plate VIL, 
Fig. 135). 
May Lily has two floral leaves in 
each whorl—that is, four perianth leaves, 
four stamens. | 
In Butcher's Broom the apparent 
leaves are modified branches, for they 
Fic, 132.—Fiorar arise in the axil of the scale leaves, and 
DiackaM OF HERB they bear scale leaves on their surface. 
PARIS. 
The flowers appear to be seated on the 
leaf, but are borne by short stalks arising in the axil of the 
scaly leaf (Plate VIL, Fig. 134). 
So too, in ee the ere branches may easily be 
mistaken for leaves. 
This Order is widely distributed. Liles, for 
instance, are found in every part of the globe, 
being extensively grown in gardens. At the same time it 
may be noticed that many of the common English wild 
flowers, ¢.g., Bluebells, are not found in the tropics. 


Distribution. 
