Order 7. Centrolepidaceæ. These are the most reduced plants in the family; small grass- or rush-like herbs. The flowers are very small, naked. Stamens 1–2, carpels 1–∞. 32 species. Australia.—Centrolepis (flowers generally ☿ with 1 stamen and 2–∞ carpels).
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]).
In the first orders of this family the flowers are hypogynous, and in the first of all the styles are free, and the capsule dehisces septicidally; in the following the flowers are epigynous and in some reduced in number or unisexual; capsule with loculicidal dehiscence, or a berry.
Hypogynous flowers: Colchicaceæ, Liliaceæ, Convallariaceæ, Bromeliaceæ (in part).
Epigynous flowers: Amaryllidaceæ, Iridaceæ, Bromeliaceæ (in part), Dioscoreaceæ.
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.
