Part 169 (1/2)

2. P. giganteum, Dietrich. (GREAT S.) _Glabrous throughout_; stem stout and mostly tall (2--7 high), terete; _leaves ovate, partly clasping_ (3--8' long), or the upper oblong and nearly sessile, many-nerved; _peduncles several-(2--8-) flowered_, jointed below the flower; flowers 5--9” long; _filaments smooth and naked_, or nearly so, inserted on the middle of the tube.--Meadows and river-banks, N. Eng. to Va., west to the Rocky Mts. June.

12. ASPaRAGUS, Tourn. ASPARAGUS.

Perianth 6-parted, spreading above; the 6 stamens on its base; anthers introrse. Style short; stigma 3-lobed. Berry spherical, 3-celled; the cells 2-seeded.--Perennials, with much-branched stems from thick and matted rootstocks, and small greenish-yellow axillary flowers on jointed pedicels. The narrow, commonly thread-like, so-called leaves are really branchlets, acting as leaves, cl.u.s.tered in the axils of little scales which are the true leaves. (The ancient Greek name.)

A. OFFICINaLIS, L. (GARDEN ASPARAGUS.) Herbaceous, tall, bushy-branched; leaves thread-like.--A frequent escape from gardens. June. (Adv. from Eu.)

13. SMILACNA, Desf. FALSE SOLOMON'S SEAL.

Perianth 6-parted, spreading, withering-persistent (white). Stamens 6, inserted at the base of the divisions; filaments slender, anthers short, introrse. Ovary 3-celled, with 2 ovules in each cell; style short and thick, stigma obscurely 3-lobed. Berry globular, 1--2-seeded.--Perennial herbs, with simple stems from creeping or thickish rootstocks, alternate nerved mostly sessile leaves, and white, sometimes fragrant flowers in a terminal and simple or compound raceme. (Name a diminutive of _Smilax_, to which, however, these plants bear little resemblance.)

[*] _Flowers on very short pedicels in a terminal racemose panicle; stamens exceeding the small (1” long) segments; ovules collateral; rootstock stout, fleshy._

1. S. racemsa, Desf. (FALSE SPIKENARD.) Minutely downy (1--3 high); leaves numerous, oblong or oval-lanceolate, taper-pointed, ciliate, abruptly somewhat petioled; berries pale red, speckled with purple, aromatic.--Moist copses, N. Brunswick to S. C., west to Minn., E. Kan.

and Ark.

[*][*] _Flowers larger (2--3” long), on solitary pedicels in a simple few-flowered raceme; stamens included; ovules not collateral; rootstock rather slender._

2. S. stellata, Desf. Plant (1 high or less) nearly glabrous, or the 7--12 _oblong-lanceolate leaves_ minutely downy beneath when young, slightly clasping; raceme sessile or nearly so; _berries blackish_.--Moist banks, Lab. to N. J., west to E. Kan., Minn., and westward. (Eu.)

3. S. triflia, Desf. Glabrous, _dwarf_ (2--6' high); _leaves 3_ (sometimes 2 or 4), oblong, tapering to a _sheathing base_; raceme peduncled; _berries red_.--Cold bogs, Lab. to N. Eng., west to Mich. and Min. (Sib.)

14. MAIaNTHEMUM, Wigg.

Perianth 4-parted, with as many stamens. Ovary 2-celled; stigma 2-lobed.

Otherwise as in Smilacina.--Flowers solitary or fascicled, in a simple raceme upon a low 2--3-leaved stem. Leaves ovate- to lanceolate-cordate.

(Name from _Maius_, May, and ???e??, _a flower_.)

1. M. Canadense, Desf. p.u.b.escent or glabrous (3--5' high); leaves lanceolate to ovate, cordate at base with a very narrow sinus, sessile or very shortly petioled; perianth-segments 1” long. (Smilacina bifolia, var. Canadensis, _Gray_.)--Moist woods, Lab. to N. C., west to Minn. and Iowa. May.

15. STRePTOPUS, Michx. TWISTED-STALK.

Perianth recurved-spreading from a bell-shaped base, deciduous; the 6 distinct sepals lanceolate, acute, the 3 inner keeled. Anthers arrow-shaped, extrorse, fixed near the base to the short flattened filaments, tapering above to a slender entire or 2-cleft point. Ovary with many ovules in each cell; style and sometimes the stigmas one.

Berry red, roundish-ovoid, many-seeded.--Herbs, with rather stout stems from a creeping rootstock, forking and divergent branches, ovate and taper-pointed rounded-clasping membranaceous leaves, and small (extra-) axillary flowers, either solitary or in pairs, on slender thread-like peduncles, which are abruptly bent or contorted near the middle (whence the name, from st?ept??, _twisted_, and p???, _foot_ or _stalk_).

1. S. amplexiflius, DC. Stem 2--3 high, glabrous; _leaves very smooth, glaucous underneath_, strongly clasping; _flower greenish-white_ (4--6”

long) on a long abruptly bent peduncle; anthers tapering to a slender entire point; _stigma entire, truncate_.--Cold moist woods, N. Eng. to N. Minn., south to Ohio, Penn., and in the mountains to N. C. June.

(Eu.)

2. S. rseus, Michx. _Lower leaves green both sides, finely ciliate_, and the branches sparingly beset with short bristly hairs; _flower rose-purple_ (3--4” long), more than half the length of the slightly bent peduncle; anthers 2-horned; _stigma 3-cleft_.--Cold damp woods, N.

Eng. to N. Minn., and south in the mountains to Ga. May.