3. Stem arising out of a corm, very short, underground during the time of flowering, bearing 1-3 flowers at the top. Perianth with a very long, sometimes split tube. Capsule opening septicidally. [Tribe COLCHICEAE.] 4 Stem arising out of a bulb. Flowers in racemes or umbels, very rarely solitary. Perianth with a not very long tube or without a tube. Capsule opening loculicidally. 5 4. Perianth-segments free.--Species 2. Algeria and Abyssinia. Used as ornamental plants. =Merendera= Ram. Perianth-segments united below.--Species 5. North Africa. Poisonous and used as medicinal and ornamental plants. =Colchicum= L. 5. Flowers in cymose umbels or heads surrounded by 2-3 bracts. Scape distinctly developed. Leaves usually linear. Perianth-segments free or united at the base only. [Tribe ALLIEAE.] 6 Flowers in racemes, corymbs, or spikes, very rarely solitary, rarely in umbels or heads surrounded by 3 or more bracts, but then scape almost wanting, leaves oblong to ovate, spreading, and perianth-segments united to the middle or higher up. 8 6. Inflorescence surrounded by narrow bracts. Radical leaves 1-3. Perianth usually yellow.--Species 10. North Africa. =Gagea= Salisb. Inflorescence surrounded by broad membranous bracts usually united at the base. 7 7. Perianth-segments united into a short tube at the base. Filaments dilated. Ovules in each ovary-cell 6-12. Smell not alliaceous.--Species 2. Cultivated and sometimes naturalised in North Africa, the Mascarene Islands, and St. Helena. Ornamental plants. (_Milla_ Cav.) =Nothoscordum= Kunth Perianth-segments free or nearly free. Ovules in each ovary-cell 2, rarely 3-6. Smell alliaceous.--Species 30. North Africa, Abyssinia, southern West Africa, and South Africa. Some of them (onion, leek, garlic) are cultivated as vegetables or pot-herbs, and yield also condiments, medicaments, and glue; others are used as ornamental plants. =Allium= L. 8. Anthers attached by the base. Stem or inflorescence branched or twining. Leaves vanishing before the time of flowering. [Tribe ASPHODELEAE, Subtribe ERIOSPERMINAE.] 9 Anthers attached by the back. Stem simple. [Tribe SCILLEAE.] 10 9. Inflorescence twining, bearing flowers on its upper branches only. Seeds oblong, with a small embryo.--Species 1. South Africa. Used as an ornamental plant. =Bowiea= Harv. Inflorescence bearing flowers on all its branches or not branched. Seeds ovoid or globose, with a large embryo.--Species 7. South Africa to Angola. =Schizobasis= Bak. 10. Flowers in nearly sessile heads or umbels surrounded by an involucre. Perianth-segments united into a tube below. Leaves 2, oblong or ovate. 11 Flowers in racemes or spikes, rarely solitary. 12 11. Perianth-segments very unequal. Filaments free.--Species 3. South Africa. Used as ornamental plants. =Daubenya= Lindl. Perianth-segments subequal. Filaments united at the base.--Species 30. South Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. =Massonia= Thunb.