Family 4. Enantioblastæ.

The flowers in this family are hypogynous and have in part the general monocotyledonous type with 5 trimerous whorls completely developed in a regular hermaphrodite flower, and in part the flowers so much reduced that the type is very difficult to trace. On the one hand the family is well developed and has capitate inflorescences (Eriocaulaceæ) and on the other hand it is distinctly reduced (Centrolepidaceceæ). This family has taken its name from the fact that the ovule is not, as in the Liliifloræ and nearly all other Monocotyledons, anatropous, but orthotropous, so that the embryo (βλάστη) becomes placed at the end of the seed opposite (ἐναντίος) to the hilum. Large, mealy endosperm.—The orders belonging to this family are by certain authors grouped with the Bromeliaceæ and Pontederiaceæ, etc., into one family, Farinoseæ, so named on account of the mealy endosperm, the distinguishing character of the Liliifloræ then being that the endosperm is fleshy and horny.

Family 5. Liliifloræ.

The flower is constructed on the general monocotyledonous type, with 5 alternating, 3-merous whorls (Fig. 278), but exceptions are found as in the Iridaceæ (Fig. 279) by the suppression of the inner whorl of stamens; in a few the position in relation to the bract differs from that represented in Fig. 278, and in some instead of the trimerous, di- or tetramerous flowers are found (e.g. Majanthemum, Paris). Flowers generally regular, hermaphrodite, with simple, petaloid, coloured perianth (except, for example, Bromeliaceæ); ovary trilocular, generally with 2 ovules or 2 rows of ovules in the inner angle of each loculus (Fig. 304 C, D). Endosperm always present.—A very natural family, of which some divisions in part overlap each other. The habit varies; the leaves are however long, entire, with parallel venation, except in Dioscoreaceæ (Fig. 313).

Order 1. Colchicaceæ. The flower (Fig. 304 A) is ☿, regular, hypogynous, trimerous in all five whorls (6 stamens); anthers usually extrorse. Gynœceum with 3 free styles (A, D); fruit a capsule with septicidal dehiscence (E); embryo very small (F). The underground stem is generally a corm or rhizome, seldom a bulb.

A. Veratreæ.—Veratrum; perennial herbs, stem tall with long internodes and broad, folded leaves; the flowers andromonœcious, with free, widely opening perianth-leaves (Fig. 304 A), and globular anthers; inflorescence a panicle.—Zygadenus, Melanthium, Schœnocaulon, Uvularia, Tricyrtis.

B. Tofieldieæ.—Narthecium and Tofieldia have leaves alternate (arranged in two rows), sword-like and borne in rosettes; racemes or spikes. Narthecium forms an exception to the order by having a simple style and fruit with loculicidal dehiscence; Tofieldia by the introrse anthers. In this they are related to the Liliaceæ. Narthecium has poisonous properties, like many other Colchicaceæ.

C. Colchiceæ.—Colchicum (Autumn Crocus); perennial herbs, with a long, funnel-shaped, gamophyllous perianth, and introrse anthers. The flowers of C. autumnale spring up immediately from the underground stem, which is in reality a corm formed of one internode. Colchicum autumnale flowers in autumn without leaves; in spring the radical foliage-leaves appear simultaneously with the fruit. The flower is protogynous, and is pollinated by insects (humble-bees, etc.) which seek the honey secreted by the free part of the stamen a little way down the tube. The length of the tube protects the fruit, and not, as in other cases, the nectary.—Bulbocodium and Merendera have unguiculate perianth-leaves, free, but closing together like a tube.

Order 2. Liliaceæ (Lilies). Flowers as in the Colchicaceæ but with introrse anthers; ovary free, 3-locular, with single style; capsule 3-locular with loculicidal dehiscence.—The majority are herbs with bulbs; the inflorescence is terminal. In many species reproduction takes place by means of bulbils (small bulbs) formed in the axils of the foliage-leaves (e.g. Lilium bulbiferum, lancifolium, etc., Gagea lancifolia, etc.), or in the bracts of the inflorescence (many species of Allium); in many species several buds are developed as bulbs in the axils of the bulb-scales themselves (accessory buds arising close together), and in some the formation of buds is common on the leaves.

A. Tulipeæ, Tulip Group. Bulbs. The aerial, elongated stem bears the foliage-leaves. Flowers few but generally large, with free perianth-leaves. Tulipa; style absent, no honey; flowers generally solitary, erect.—Fritillaria perianth campanulate with a round or oblong nectary at the base of each perianth-leaf.—Lilium; perianth widely open, generally turned back with a covered nectary-groove in the centre of each segment. Anthers versatile.—Lloydia; Erythronium.

B. Hyacintheæ, Hyacinth Group. Bulbs. Leaves radical; aerial stem leafless with raceme or spike. In some the perianth-segments are free, in others united. Honey is produced often in glands or in the septa of the ovary (septal glands).—Ornithogalum has a leafy stem; Scilla; Eucomis has a tuft of floral-leaves above the raceme; Agraphis; Hyacinthus; Puschkinia; Chionodoxa; Muscari; Veltheimia; Urginea.

C. Allieæ, Onion Group. Generally bulbs. Leaves radical. Stem leafless with a compound umbellate or capitate inflorescence of unipared helicoid cymes, which before flowering are surrounded by two broad involucral leaves.—Allium. Filaments often petaloid and bidentate; in many species bulbils are found in the inflorescence.—Some species have flat leaves: A. sativum, Garlic; A. porrum, Leek; A. ursinum; others have round, hollow leaves: A. cepa, Onion; A. fistulosum, Winter Onion; A. ascalonicum, Eschalot; A. schænoprasum, Chive.—Gagea; honey is secreted at the base of the perianth, no special nectary; inflorescence few-flowered.—Agapanthus; Triteleia.

Order 3. Convallariaceæ. This order differs from the Liliaceæ in having the fruit a berry (Fig. 308) and in never being bulbous; the seeds are less numerous.

A. Convallarieæ, Lily of the Valley Group. Rhizome (Fig. 307) and normal foliage-leaves.—Polygonatum: rhizome creeping; aerial shoot leafy, bearing the flowers in racemes in the axils of the foliage-leaves; perianth tubular. P. multiflorum (Solomon’s seal), P. officinale, etc.—Majanthemum: flower 2-merous; perianth almost polyphyllous, spreading. Smilacina. Streptopus (S. amplexifolius; the flowers or inflorescence unite with the entire succeeding internode).—Convallaria (1 species C. majalis, Lily of the valley); flowers in terminal racemes; 2 basal foliage-leaves; perianth globose, bell-shaped. Reineckea carnea (Japan, China) in gardens.—Paris (P. quadrifolia, Herb-Paris); flowers solitary, terminal, 4-merous, polyphyllous; styles 4, free (approaching the Colchicaceæ; it is also poisonous); a whorl of 4 (-more) 3-nerved, reticulate leaves on each shoot.—Ornamental plants: species of Trillium, Aspidistra elatior (Japan).

B. Asparageæ, Asparagus Group. Scale-like leaves and green assimilating branches.—Asparagus: horizontal rhizome. The aerial shoots are very richly branched; the numerous needle-like bodies upon the plant are leafless shoots, which are crowded together in double scorpioid cymes in the axils of the scale-leaves; the two first lateral axes, placed outside to the left and right, generally bear flowers. Polygamous.—Ruscus (Butcher’s broom) is a S. European shrub with leaf-like, ovoid or elliptical shoots (phylloclades) which are borne in the axils of scale-like leaves, and bear flowers on the central line. Diœcious. Stamens 3, united, anthers extrorse. Semele androgyna bears its flowers on the edge of the flat shoot.

C. Smilaceæ. Smilax (Sarsaparilla) (Fig. 308); climbing shrubs with the leaf-sheath produced into tendrils. The leaves have 3–5 strong nerves proceeding from the base, and are reticulate. Orthotropous or semi-anatropous ovules. Diœcious (Fig. 308 C, E).

Order 5. Amaryllidaceæ (Narcissi). The flower is epigynous, otherwise exactly the same as in the Liliaceæ (6 stamens). The majority, like these, are also perennial herbs with bulbs and scapes. The fruit and the other characters as in the Liliaceæ. The external appearance is, however, very different.

A. Amarylleæ have bulbs and the leaves generally arranged in two rows; the flowers are borne singly or in umbel-like inflorescences on lateral scapes, while the main axis of the bulb is unlimited. Beneath the inflorescence is an involucre (Fig. 309).—Galanthus, Snowdrop, has a polyphyllous perianth without corona; the three inner perianth-leaves are emarginate and shorter than the outer; the anthers dehisce apically. Leucojum differs in having the perianth-leaves equal in length.—Amaryllis has a funnel-shaped perianth, entirely or nearly polyphyllous, but somewhat zygomorphic. Crinum; Hæmanthus; Clivia.—Narcissus has a tubular corona, a ligular structure arising from the perianth-tube exterior to the outer stamens. In Pancratium (Fig. 309) the corona is united with the filaments which appear to spring from its edge. Eucharis amazonica.

Order 6. Bromeliaceæ. The flowers are hypogynous, epigynous or semi-epigynous; the perianth is divided into calyx and corolla; stamens 6. The fruit is a capsule or berry with many seeds. Endosperm mealy, embryo small, at the edge of the endosperm, but not enclosed by it.

Perennial herbs with a very characteristic appearance (Fig. 310); the stem is most often short, thick, and crowned by a rosette of many leaves, which are long, often very narrow, leathery, stiff, and with a spiny edge; they are usually channeled, completely closing round each other, with their edges forming a tightly closed hollow, in which generally water is collected (this among other things insulates the inflorescence and thus prevents the access of creeping insects, such as ants). The presence of numerous stellate, water-containing hairs often gives the leaves a grey appearance, and the layers of cells beneath the upper epidermis of the lamina form an “aqueous tissue,” which serves as a protection against the rays of the sun and regulates the evaporation. The stomata are often situated in furrows on the underside of the leaf, and hence cause a striped appearance. They are all American (525 species), especially from S. America, where they live partly as epiphytes on trees, partly in the clefts of rocks, often on the steepest slopes, to which they firmly attach themselves by aerial roots; some are terrestrial. The stem is seldom tree-like or many metres in height (Puya, in Chili; Hechtia, in Mexico). The inflorescence is a terminal spike, raceme, or panicle, often with large and brightly-coloured floral-leaves. The flowers are without scent. The seeds, in the species whose fruit is a capsule, are often provided with wings (hairs, expansions, etc).—Ananassa sativa, Pine-apple (W. Indies, Central America) is cultivated for the sake of its juicy, aromatic fruits, which coalesce with their fleshy bracts and form a large spike-like fruit-cluster (multiple-fruits,[29] Fig. 311) bearing on its apex a leafy shoot, which may be used as a cutting. Seeds very rarely developed.—Tillandsia (T. usneoides is a filamentous, richly branched, rootless epiphyte hanging in masses from trees; Trop. Am.), Aechmea, Billbergia, Pitcairnia, etc.

Order 8. The Iridaceæ have epigynous, hermaphrodite flowers with petaloid perianth as in the Amaryllidaceæ, but the interior whorl of stamens is entirely suppressed, and the 3 developed outer stamens have extrorse anthers (Fig. 279); there is 1 style with 3 large, generally more or less leaf-like branches bearing the stigmas. Ovary and capsule as in the Amaryllidaceæ and Liliaceæ.—Perennial herbs; bulbs are rarely found, but horizontal rhizomes, corms, etc., take their place. The leaves are (except Crocus) as in the Iris, two-rowed, equitant and sword-like. Flowers or inflorescences terminal.

The Iris (Flag) has a horizontal rhizome. The flowers are borne in the leaf-axils in fan-like inflorescences (rhipidium). The branches of the style are large and petaloid; on their under surface may be seen a small projecting shelf (Fig. 312 a) having on its upper surface the stigmatic hairs. Beneath the branches of the style are 3 well protected stamens, and immediately outside these the external perianth-leaves. The honey is secreted in the perianth-tube, and the insects, endeavouring to obtain it through the narrow passages at the base of the stamens, settle upon the outer perianth-leaves, which are bent backwards and often very hairy along their central line. The insects then rub their backs on the anthers just above them, beneath the branches of the style; they readily deposit the pollen on the stigma of another flower as they enter it, but cannot do so in withdrawing, since the stigma is pushed back, and self-fertilisation is thus avoided. The stylar branches lie close to the outer perianth-leaves, which are just beneath them, or separated by a distance of only 6–10 mm.; the first form of flower is adapted for Rhingia rostrata, the latter for bees.—Crocus has vertical, tuberous, underground stems surrounded by the leaf-sheaths (corms), and terminal flowers; the linear leaves are not equitant, but have two longitudinal furrows on the under side. The perianth is gamophyllous and funnel-shaped. The stylar branches (stigmas) are fleshy, rolled together in the shape of a horn, and split along the edge.—Gladiolus has corms like the Crocus; spikes with slightly zygomorphic, almost bilabiate flowers, most frequently turning to one side. Position of the leaves as in the Iris.—Diplarrhena has 2 fertile and 1 barren stamen; Hermodactylus has a unilocular ovary with 3 parietal placentæ. Cypella and Tigridia have bulbs.

Order 9. Dioscoreaceæ. Perennial herbs with fleshy, often very large tuberous rhizomes (or roots); twining stems; leaves stalked, often arrow- or heart-shaped, lobed, palminerved and finely reticulate as in the Dicotyledons (Fig. 313). The flower is diclinous (most frequently diœcious), regular, epigynous, small, and of a greenish colour, but otherwise typical (Pr3 + 3, and A3 + 3, or G3); in most instances 2 ovules are placed one above the other in each loculus. The inflorescence is a spike or raceme, sometimes richly branched and paniculate.—The order approaches most nearly to the Amaryllidaceæ.

Tamus (Bryony) has a berry, Dioscorea (Yam) a thin-walled, 3-edged or 3-winged capsule (Fig. 313). Both have subterranean or aerial tubers; the Yam very often also developes tubers in the axils of the foliage-leaves; tuberous roots are said to occur in D. batatas. The tubers of many species of Yams (D. batatas from China and Japan, D. alata, South Sea Islands and India, D. bulbifera) are a very important source of food in the Tropics, especially the first-named.—Testudinaria; Rajania.—The tuberous stem of Tamus communis and Testudinaria elephantipes, and some species of Dioscorea is formed from one single internode (epicotyl), and the aerial shoots are developed from adventitious buds; in T. elephantipes the stem is aerial, and covered with thick scales of cork, regularly arranged, and separated by grooves.

Family 6. Scitamineæ.

The flowers belong to the ordinary monocotyledonous type. They are hermaphrodite, epigynous, and have either a petaloid perianth, or calyx and corolla; they are, however, zygomorphic or unsymmetrical, and of the stamens most frequently only one is completely developed, the others being generally represented by petaloid staminodes. The ovary has 3 loculi, more rarely it is unilocular with the suppression of 2 loculi. Endosperm is absent (except Zingiberaceæ); but, on the other hand, there is a large perisperm. To this family belong large, glabrous, especially perennial herbs with rhizomes; leaves large, distinctly divided into sheath, stalk, and blade, the latter being more or less elliptical or lanceolate, entire, with pinnate venation, and always with a very well-pronounced midrib, gradually tapering towards the apex, and giving off numerous branches, which run outwards, towards the margin, at a larger or smaller angle; these lateral veins are closely packed, and parallel, but with only weak, connecting branches between them; the leaves, therefore, are easily torn pinnately (Figs. 314, 317). The leaf-sheaths close tightly round each other and form a false stem.

This very natural family comprises orders closely connected with each other, but is not itself nearly allied to any other family. First in the series stands:—

Order 1. Musaceæ. The petaloid perianth is strongly zygomorphic, the anterior leaf being very large (a kind of “labellum”), the posterior one small; only the posterior stamen is wanting, or is rudimentary, the other five are developed, and have quadrilocular anthers; ovary, 3-locular. Seed with straight embryo in mealy perisperm.

The best-known genus is Musa, the Banana (Fig. 314). From the short rhizome arise enormously large, spirally-placed leaves, whose sheaths envelope one another, and form an apparently aerial stem, several metres in height. The inflorescence is a terminal spike with floral-leaves placed spirally, and sometimes magnificently coloured; in the axils of each of these several flowers are situated in two transverse rows (accessory buds); the lowest flowers in the inflorescence are ♀, the central ones ☿, the upper ones ♂, so that fruits are only found in the lower region of the inflorescence, the remaining portion persisting as a naked axis after the floral-leaves and flowers have fallen off; the inflorescence terminates in an ovoid bud formed by the flowers which have not yet opened (Fig. 314, the left-hand figure). The perianth-leaves are united (except the posterior one). The fruit (known as a “Banana”) is a berry, having the form of a smooth, short, three-cornered Cucumber (as much as 30 cm. in length); inside the tough skin is found a farinaceous, aromatic pulp. No seed is developed in the cultivated species.—Several Musa-species are cultivated in the Tropics for the sake of the fruit (M. paradisiaca, M. sapientum); for the fibrovascular bundles, M. textilis (Manilla Hemp).—Their home is, no doubt, the Tropics of the Old World; they were introduced into America before the arrival of Europeans. Musa ensete has dry, leathery fruits; an ornamental plant.

The order may be divided as follows:—1. Museæ: Musa, Ravenala, Strelitzia in the Old World. 2. Heliconiæ: Heliconia in the New World.

Order 2. Zingiberaceæ. Perianth most frequently divided into calyx and corolla. Calyx gamosepalous. Only 1 fertile stamen (the posterior, Fig. 315, belonging to the inner whorl) with quadrilocular anther, which encloses the style in a furrow; the 2 stamens in the outer whorl are staminodes, the median one (the anterior) is wanting. The 2 lateral staminodes of the inner whorl form the “labellum” (Fig. 315 lab), which usually is the largest segment of the flower, and is often bilobed. Ovules many. The fruit in some is a leathery, 3-valved capsule, with loculicidal dehiscence; in others it is more or less berry-like and indehiscent, or irregularly dehiscent. Straight embryo.—The aerial stem is seldom developed to any extent, and the inflorescences, which are (compound) spikes or racemes, often with coloured floral-leaves, spring in some (e.g. Zingiber officinale) directly from the rhizome. The leaves are arranged in two rows.—The ovary in a few instances (Globba and others) is unilocular, with 3 parietal placentæ.