MELANTHACEAE 253 
raceme many-flowered : perianth yellow : sepals and petals about 5 mm. long, subcordate, 
the sepals more broadly ovate than the petals, both with fleshy claws about 1 mm. long, the 
glands distinct, half-orbicular, the upper edge free. 
On plains or prairies, Texas. Spring. 
13. ZYGADENUS Michx. 
Showy caulescent herbs, with glabrous foliage and horizontal rootstocks. Leaves mainly 
basal : blades linear, elongated, more or less involute. Flowers perfect. Perianth white : 
sepals and petals furnished with 2 glands above the claw, distinct. Stamens 6, about as 
long as the perianth: filaments free and distinct. Ovary 3-celled : styles 3, shorter than the 
ovary. Capsule somewhat elongated, 3-celled, dehiscent to the base. Seeds few or several 
in each cavity, angled. 
1. Zygadenus glabérrimus Michx. Foliage glaucous. Stems 5-12 dm. tall, panic- 
ulate above: leaf-blades linear, 1-4 dm. long or shorter above, alternate, finely ribbed, at- 
tenuate, often approximate on the lower part of the stem : panicles 1-3 dm. long, the branches 
ascending : pedicels surpassing the bracts : perianth white : sepals and petals ovate to oblong 
or lanceolate, 1-1.5 cm. long, acute or acuminate, with 2 glands near the base: filaments 
dilated at the base : capsules conic-ovoid, about 1 em. long, much shorter than the perianth. 
In swamps near the coast, Virginia to Florida. Summer. 
14. MELANTHIUM L. 
Coarse caulescent herbs, with thick rootstocks. Leaves mainly basal: blades narrow, 
more or less elongated. Flowers monoecious or polygamous.  Perianth white, cream- 
colored or greenish, or darker in age: sepals and petals various, clearly distinguishable 
into blade and claw, spreading, the blades with 2 conspicuous glands at the base. Stamens 
6 : filaments shorter than the perianth. Ovary 3-celled, longer than broad, sessile : styles 3. 
Ovules numerous. Capsule 3-celled, 3-lobed, membranous. Seeds flat, winged. Buscn- 
FLOWER. 
Blades of the sepals and petals suborbicular, undulate or crisped: leaf-blades 
manifestly broadest above the middle. ; 1. M. latifolium. 
Blades of the sepals and petals oblong, entire: leaf-blades linear or nearly so. 
Panicle narrow, elongated, central axis much surpassing the branches: flowers 
numerous: blades almost twice as long as the claws of the sepals and petals. 2. M. Virginicum. 
Panicle about as broad as long, central axis not surpassing the branches ; flowers 
few: blades fully thrice as long as the claws of the sepals and petals. 3. M. dispersum. 
1. Melanthium latifóülium Desr. Foliage pubescent. Stems 5-10 dm. tall, leafy 
near the base ; leaf-blades elongated, slightly broadest above the middle, 1-3 dm. long, 
acute or acuminate, narrowed into petiole-like bases ; stem-leaves reduced to narrow ses- 
sile blades: panicles 2-6 dm. long, the branches ascending, middle axis continued beyond the 
branches : flowers fragrant: perianth whitish, 10-15 mm. broad: sepals and petals spreading ; 
blades suborbicular, more or less undulate or crisped, longer than the claws, each with 2 
glands at the base: capsules broadest above or below the middle, 12-15 mm. long.. 
In open woods and on hillsides, Connecticut to Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Summer. 
2. Melanthium Virginicum L. Foliage pubescent. Stems 7-15 dm. tall, leafy 
below the middle : leaf-blades linear, 1-4 dm. long or shorter above, attenuate, elongated : 
panicle narrow, 1-5 dm. long, many-flowered, the central axis much surpassing the ascending 
branches: pedicels as long as the perianth or longer: perianth greenish yellow, turning 
brown, 15-20 mm. broad : sepals and petals spreading ; blades oblong, entire, about twice 
as long as the claws, each with 2 dark basal glands: capsules broadest near the middle, 
10-15 mm. long. 
In swamps and meadows, Rhode Island to Minnesota, Florida and Texas. Summer. 
3. Melanthium dispérsum Small. Foliage glabrate below the inflorescence. Stems 
apparently 10-20 dm. tall, simple below the panicle, thence zigzag and scurfy-pubescent : 
leaf-blades narrowly linear, elongated, 3-8 dm. long, sheathing the stem for several cm. : 
panicles ample, open, the branches zigzag, widely ascending, corymbosely arranged, the 
upper ones equalling or overtopping the central axis: bracts 3-10 cm. long, obtuse : pedicels 
spreading, 8-12 mm. long, rigid : perianth 12-15 mm. broad : sepals and petals thickish ; 
blades oblong, obtuse, entire, several times longer than the claws, each with 2 dark glands 
at the base : capsules (barely mature) ovoid, 7-9 mm. long. 
In woods, Walton county, Florida. Summer. 
