Herbs. Root-stock tuberous. Leaves elliptical or cordate, with curved main-nerves. Flowers in terminal racemes or panicles, provided with bracts. Perianth-segments 6, petaloid, shortly united at the base. Stamens 6, inserted at the base of the perianth, more or less united below. Anthers linear, longer than the filaments, opening by short slits at the apex. Ovary slightly sunk in the receptacle, deeply lobed, 3-celled. Ovules 2 in each cell, ascending, inverted. Style simple, with a 3-lobed stigma. Fruit a 1-seeded nut. Seed with a thin testa, a copious albumen, and a transversely-ovate marginal embryo. (Under _PONTEDERIACEAE_ or _HAEMODORACEAE_.) Genus 1, species 5. Central Africa. Some have edible tubers. (_Schoenlandia_ Cornu). =Cyanastrum= Oliv. ORDER LILIIFLORAE SUBORDER JUNCINEAE FAMILY 31. JUNCACEAE Leaves linear or reduced to the sheath. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite. Perianth-segments 6, free, stiff, usually green. Stamens 3 or 6. Ovary superior, 1-or 3-celled. Ovules 3 or more, inverted. Style 1; stigmas 3, elongated. Fruit capsular. Seeds with a straight axile embryo and abundant albumen.--Genera 3, species 55. (Plate 17.) 1. Stem woody. Leaves at its top, stiff, serrate. Ovary 3-celled, with 2 or few ovules in each cell. Style very short. Seeds with a large embryo and appressed testa.--Species 1. South Africa. It yields fibres and vegetables and is used for plaiting-work. “Palmiet.” (Plate 17.) =Prionium= E. Mey. Stem herbaceous. Style thread-like. Seeds with a small embryo. 2 2. Ovary 1-celled, with 3 basal ovules. Leaves with a closed sheath and ciliate margins.--Species 10. North and South Africa and high mountains of Central Africa. “Wood-rush.” =Luzula= DC. Ovary 1-3-celled, with numerous parietal or axile ovules.--Species 45. Some are used in medicine or for plaiting-work. “Rush.” =Juncus= L. [Illustration: JUNCACEAE. _FLOW. PL. AFR._ _Pl. 17._ J. Fleischmann del. Prionium serratum Drege _A_ Inflorescence. _B_ Branch of the inflorescence. _C_ Older flower. _D_ Younger flower cut lengthwise. _E_ Leaf.] [Illustration: LILIACEAE. _FLOW. PL. AFR._ _Pl. 18._ J. Fleischmann del. Dracaena Perrotetii Bak. _A_ Flowering branch. _B_ Flower cut lengthwise.] SUBORDER LILIINEAE FAMILY 32. LILIACEAE Perianth more or less corolla-like. Stamens 6, rarely fewer. Ovary superior, usually 2-5-celled, rarely 1-celled with parietal placentas. Seeds with a small embryo and abundant, fleshy or horny albumen.--Genera 79, species 1450. (Including _COLCHICACEAE_ and _SMILACEAE_.) (Plate 18.) 1. Underground part of the stem a bulb or a corm. 2 Underground part of the stem a rootstock or not distinctly developed. 41 2. Leaves all radical, rarely also some much smaller cauline leaves present. 3 Leaves distributed along the stem or crowded at its top. 31