E. Aloineæ, Aloes. Stem generally aerial and tree-like, bearing on its summit thick, fleshy leaves, often with a thorny edge (Fig. [306]). Raceme branched or unbranched.—Aloë; Gasteria; Yucca (has secondary thickening, p. [274]).
F. Hemerocallideæ. Phormium, (Ph. tenax. New Zealand Flax); Funckia (Hosta); Hemerocallis.
At this point the following are best placed: Aphyllanthes (A. monspeliensis); Xanthorrhæa (Black-boy); Xerotes; Lomandra; Kingia; the very membranous, dry perianth of the last resembles that of the Juncaceæ, and also there are only 1–few ovules in the loculi.
Pollination by insects. Honey in some is produced on the perianth (see Tulipeæ), in others by glands on the carpels (in the septa and parietal placentæ, septal glands): Hyacinthus, Allium, Anthericum, Asphodelus, Yucca, Funckia, Hemerocallis, etc. Some Allium-species are protandrous. Fritillaria is visited by bees, Lilium martagon by moths, L. bulbiferum by butterflies, Phormium (New Zealand) by honey-birds.
Fig. 306.—Aloë.
About 1,580 species; rare in cold climates; their home is in sunny plains with firm, hard soil, and warm or mild climate, particularly in the Old World (S. Africa; As. Steppes; Mediterranean); at the commencement of spring the flowers appear in great profusion, and after the course of a few weeks disappear; during the hot season their life lies dormant in the bulb, hidden underground. The woody species are tropical.—The majority of the introduced Liliaceæ (Fritillaria imperialis, Crown-imperial; Lilium candidum; Tulipa gesneriana; Hyacinth; Muscari-species; Scilla-species; Ornithogalum nutans; Hemerocallis fulva and flava; Asphodelus luteus and albus) come from the Mediterranean and W. Asia; Funckia from China and Japan; several Lilies from Japan and the Himalayas; Agapanthus from the Cape; Allium sativum is a native of the Kerghis-Steppes; A. cepa from Persia (?); A. ascalonicum is not known wild (according to others a native of Asia Minor), perhaps a form of A. cepa; A. schænoprasum from the N. temp. region.
Many bulbs have pungent properties; many Onions are used as culinary plants. The bast fibres of Phormium tenax (New Zealand Flax) are used technically. Dyes are obtained from the Aloe; gum for varnish from the stem of Xanthorrhæa hostile and australe. Officinal; “Aloes,” the dried sap of S. African species of Aloe (A. Africana, A. ferox, etc.); the bulb known as “Squills” from Urginea (Scilla) maritima (Mediterranean).
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).