Flora of Sri Lanka

Group:

2 Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) - II - Monocotyledons

Including Genus/Genera:

Key to Genera:

Family Identification Features:

Herbs, usually with subterrenean bulbs. Leaves radical, generally distichous, sheathing at base, usually few. Inflorescence few- to many-flowered (rarely one-flowered), umbel-like, subtended by an involucre of 1-8 bracts. Flowers regular or irregular, bisexual, epigynous, conspicuous. Perianth 3+3, petaloid, tepals free or connate. Stamens 3+3, inserted in the perianth tube, the filaments sometimes dilated and connate at the base forming a corona. Anthers basifixed or medifixed, introrse, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary with 3 carpels and 3 loculi; ovules few to many in each loculus, anatropous, usually on axile placentae. Style simple, filiform. Stigma punctiform, capitate or 3-lobed. Fruit mostly a capsule, sometimes a berry. Seeds 1 to many, with fleshy endosperm and a small, straight embryo. (FOC-Vol XIV – Pg. 15)