\ 



9 





1613 



XEROPHYLLUM* setifdlium. 



Tough-leaved Xerophyllum. 





HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Nat. ord. Melanthaceje R. Br. (Introduction to the natural system 



of Botany, p. 272.) , . .. . 



XEROPHYLLUM Richard. — Calyx hexapetalopartita, subrotata, 

 petalis eglandulosis : alternis paulo minoribus. Filamenta erecta, basibus 

 inter se et cum germine contigua. Antherce subrotundte, utrinque mar- 

 ginatse. Stigmata 3, anguste ligulata, canaliculata, superne revoluta. 

 Capsula subtestacea, fere globosa, quasi tricocca, apice nma tnplici externe 

 dehiscens, 3-locularis : loculis 2-spermis. Semina basi loculorum adnata, 

 erecta, oblonga, compressa. Mich. 



X. setifolium : foliis caulinis subulato-setaceis, racemo thyrsoideo, bracteis 

 setaceis pedicellis brevioribus, filamentis basi dilatatis petala ovato- 

 oblonga sequantibus. Romer et Schultes, 7. 1567. 



X. setifolium. Michauxfl. boreali-Amer. I. 210. Torrey flora. 1. «*7U. 



Helonias asphodeloides. Linn. sp. pi. 485. 

 Xerophyllum tenax. Nutt. gen. 1 . 235. R. et S. l. c. 

 Helonias tenax. Purshfl. Am. sept. 1. 243. /. 9. 



A beautiful herbaceous plant, whether we regard the 

 tufts of bright green, curved, neat-looking leaves, or the tall 

 spikes of white and violet flowers, which it throws up in 

 June and July. In a peat border it grows vigorously, and 

 will thrive in the most exposed situations and driest seasons. 

 A division of the crown of the roots is the usual mode ot 

 propagating it, unless it ripens seeds, which sometimes 

 happens. 



It grows wild in various parts of North America, espe- 

 cially in the sterile tracts called Pine-barrens, both on the 



* So called from fr*. dry, and <p^», a leaf ; in allusion to the texture 

 of the foliage. 



