Part 171 (1/2)

28. NARTHeCIUM, Moehring. BOG-ASPHODEL.

Sepals 6, linear-lanceolate, yellowish, persistent. Filaments 6, woolly; anthers linear, introrse. Capsule cylindrical-oblong, attenuate upward and bearing the slightly lobed sessile stigma, loculicidal, many-seeded.

Seeds ascending, appendaged at each end with a long bristle-form tail.--Rootstock creeping, bearing linear equitant leaves, and a simple stem or scape, terminated by a simple dense bracteate raceme; pedicels bearing a linear bractlet. (Name an anagram of _Antheric.u.m_, from ?????????, supposed to have been the Asphodel.)

1. N. Americanum, Ker. Stem 1 high or more; leaves 1” wide, 7--9-nerved; raceme dense (1--2' long); perianth-segments narrowly linear (2--2” long), scarcely exceeding the stamens. (N. ossifragum, var. Americanum, _Gray_.)--Sandy bogs, pine-barrens of N. J. June, July.

29. MELaNTHIUM, Linn.

Flowers monciously polygamous. Perianth of 6 separate and free widely spreading somewhat heart-shaped or oblong and halberd-shaped or oblanceolate sepals, raised on slender claws, cream-colored or greenish, the base marked with 2 approximate or confluent glands, or glandless, turning greenish brown and persistent. Filaments shorter than the sepals, adhering to their claws often to near the summit, persistent.

Anthers heart-shaped or kidney-shaped, confluently 1-celled, s.h.i.+eld-shaped after opening, extrorse. Styles 3, awl-shaped, diverging, tipped with simple stigmas. Capsule ovoid-conical, 3-lobed, of 3 inflated membranaceous carpels united in the axis, separating when ripe, and splitting down the inner edge, several-seeded. Seeds flat, broadly winged.--Stems tall and leafy, from a thick rootstock, roughish-downy above, as well as the open and ample pyramidal panicle (composed chiefly of simple racemes), the terminal part mostly fertile. Leaves linear to oblanceolate or oval, not plaited. (Name composed of ??a?, _black_, and ?????, _flower_, from the darker color which the persistent perianth a.s.sumes after blossoming.)

[*] _Sepals with a conspicuous double gland at the summit of the claw._

1. M. Virginic.u.m, L. (BUNCH-FLOWER.) Stem 3--5 high, leafy, rather slender; leaves linear (4--10” wide); sepals flat, ovate to oblong or slightly hastate (2--4” long); capsule 6” long; seeds 10 in each cell, 2--3” long.--Wet meadows, N. Eng. to N. C., west to Minn. and Tex.

2. M. latiflium, Desrouss. Leaves more oblanceolate, often 2' broad; sepals undulate (2--3” long), the very narrow claw nearly equalling the orbicular or ovate blade; capsule 6--8” long; styles more slender; seeds 4--8 in each cell, 3--4” long. (M. racemosum, _Michx._)--W. Conn.

to S. C.

[*][*] _Sepals oblanceolate, without glands._

3. M. parviflrum, Watson. Stem rather slender (2--5 high), sparingly leafy, naked above; leaves oval to oblanceolate (2--4' wide), on long petioles; sepals 2--3” long, oblanceolate or spatulate, those of the sterile flowers on claws; stamens very short; capsule 6” long; seeds 4--6 in each cell, 4” long. (Veratrum parviflorum, _Michx._)--In the Alleghanies, Va. to S. C.

30. VERaTRUM, Tourn. FALSE h.e.l.lEBORE.

Flowers monciously polygamous. Perianth of 6 spreading and separate obovate-oblong (greenish or brownish) sepals, more or less contracted at the base (but not clawed), nearly free from the ovary, not gland-bearing. Filaments free from the sepals and shorter than they, recurving. Anthers, pistils, fruit, etc., nearly as in Melanthium.--Somewhat p.u.b.escent perennials, with simple stems from a thickened base producing coa.r.s.e fibrous roots (very poisonous), 3-ranked, plaited and strongly veined leaves, and racemed-panicled dull or dingy flowers; in summer. (Name from _vere_, truly, and _ater_, black.)

1. V. viride, Ait. (AMERICAN WHITE h.e.l.lEBORE. INDIAN POKE.) _Stem stout, very leafy_ to the top (2--7 high); _leaves broadly oval_, pointed, _sheath-clasping; panicle pyramidal_, the _dense spike-like racemes_ spreading; _perianth yellowish-green_, moderately spreading, _the segments ciliate-serrulate; ovary glabrous_; capsule many-seeded.--Swamps and low grounds, common.

2. V. Woodii, Robbins. _Stem slender, sparingly leafy_ (2--5 high); _leaves oblanceolate_, only the lowest sheathing; _panicle very narrow; perianth greenish-purple, with entire segments; ovary tomentose_, soon glabrate; capsule few-seeded.--Woods and hilly barrens, S. Ind. to Mo.

31. STENaNTHIUM, Gray.

Flowers polygamous. Perianth spreading; the sepals narrowly lanceolate, tapering to a point from the broader base, where they are united and coherent with the base of the ovary, not gland-bearing, persistent, much longer than the short stamens. Anthers, capsules, etc., nearly as in Veratrum. Seeds nearly wingless.--Smooth, with a wand-like leafy stem from a bulbous base, long and gra.s.s-like conduplicate-keeled leaves, and numerous small flowers in compound racemes, forming a long terminal panicle; in summer. (Name composed of ste???, _narrow_, and ?????, _flower_, from the slender sepals and panicles.)

1. S. angustiflium, Gray. Stem leafy (3--4 high), _very slender; leaves 2--3” broad_; panicle elongated, nearly simple, very open, with slender flexuous branches; flowers nearly sessile or the fertile on short pedicels; sepals linear-lanceolate (white), 2--3” long; _capsule strongly reflexed_, narrowly oblong-ovate, with spreading beaks.--In the Alleghanies from Va. to S. C.

2. S. robustum, Watson. Resembling the last; _stem stout_, leafy, erect (3--5 high); _leaves 4--10” broad_; panicle or raceme often 2 long, frequently compound with numerous slender branches; sepals (white or green) 3--4” long; _capsule erect_, ovate, with recurved beaks.--Penn.

to S. C., Ohio and Tenn.

32. ZYGADeNUS, Michx.

Flowers perfect or polygamous. Perianth withering-persistent, spreading; the petal-like oblong or ovate sepals 1--2-glandular near the more or less narrowed but not unguiculate base, which is either free, or united and coherent with the base of the ovary. Stamens free from the sepals and about their length. Anthers, styles, and capsule nearly as in Melanthium. Seeds angled, rarely at all margined.--Very smooth and somewhat glaucous perennials, with simple stems from creeping rootstocks or coated bulbs, linear leaves, and rather large panicled greenish-white flowers; in summer. (Name composed of ?????, _a yoke_, and ?d??, _a gland_, the glands being sometimes in pairs.)

[*] _Glands on the perianth conspicuous._

[+] _Rootstock creeping; glands 2, orbicular, above the broad claw._