TRIS, FLAG-LILY, OR FLEUR-DE-LYS. 91 
Numerous other species of vis are to be found in gardens ; 
these have all the same floral structure as J. germanica. 
Compare also with them the small native iridaceous plants 
belonging to the genus Inbertia : in these only the inner 
perianth-leaves, or petals, are coloured, the sepals being 
csreenish ; the styles also are filiform, not petaloid. 
Compare with the above type any of the following, which are more or 
less commonly cultivated plants: Gladiolus, Watsonia, Sparaxis, Ixia, 
Tigridia, or Crocus. Nearly allied, but always having six stamens, are— 
Galanthus (Snowdrop), Narcissus (including Daffodils and Jonquils)—all 
the species of which are furnished with a crown, or tube-like prolongation 
of the perianth, called the corona—Amaryllis, Lewcojum (Snowflake), &c. 
25. New Zeauanpd Fuax (Phormium tenazx). 
In many of its features this abundant and most character- 
istic plant resembles the preceding type. It has a stout 
creeping rhizome, from which ascend tufts of very long, 
equitant, ensiform leaves, having parallel venation. The 
scape bears numerous panicled flowers, each cluster sub- 
tended by a spathe-like bract. Each flower has a perianth of 
6 separate and almost similar dull-red-coloured leaves, which 
are fastened below the ovary (inferior). The base of the flower 
secretes a large quantity of very sweet nectar. The 6 sta- 
mens are attached to the lower part of the perianth-segments 
(perigynous), and have their anthers dorsifixed (i.c., fastened 
by their back to the filament) and opening inwards (introrse) 
when ready to discharge their pollen. The superior 3-celled 
ovary contains numerous ovules arranged in two rows in the 
axis of each cell, and it bears a stout 3-angled style ending in 
a capitate obscurely-8-lobed stigma. The fruit is a more or 
less elongated and 3-angled capsule, which dehisces loculici- 
dally by 8 valves, displaying a great number of closely-packed, 
shining, black, flat seeds. These have a thin membranous 
testa, and contain rather firm endosperm with a straight axile 
embryo. In the form and size of the capsule there is con- 
siderable diversity in different varieties of this plant, some 
having the pod as much as 6in., or even 8in. long, and narrow, 
while in other forms they are very short and thick. 
If plants in full flower are observed, it will be seen that 
they are visited continually by birds, which thus serve to 
cross-fertilise them. Besides tuis and korimakos or bell-birds, 
kakas and various species of parrakeets may frequently be 
seen sipping the nectar out of the flowers, in doing which the 
feathers at the base of the bill become thickly dusted with the 
orange-yellow pollen. 
(a.) Compare with the foregoing the common Cabbage-tree 
(Cordyline australis). This differs in many respects from 
Phormium—e.g., the arboreous stem, bearing at its apex 
