2^0 FLORA. 



Leaves broad, parallel-veined and sometimes with cross-veinlets, in 

 Asparagus and its allies reduced to scales bearing filiform or flattened 

 branchlets in their axils. Perianth inferior, 4-6-parted with separate 

 segments, or oblong, cylindric or urn-shaped and 6-lobed or 6-toothed. 

 Stamens 6, rarely 4. hypogynous or borne on the perianth ; anthers in- 

 trorsely- extrorsely or laterally dehiscent. Ovary 2 3-celled, superior ; 

 ovules anatropous or amphitropous ; style slenderer short; stigma 

 mostly 3-lobed. Fruit a fleshy berry. Seeds few or numerous. Embryo 

 small. Endosperm copious. About 23 genera and 215 species, widely 

 distributed. 



Leaves reduced to scales ; leaf-like branchlets filiform. I. Asparagus. 



Leaves broad; stems simple or somewhat branched. 

 Leaves alternate or basal. 



Leaves basal ; flowers umbelled or solitary. 2. Clintonia. 



Leaves alternate (solitary in flowerless plants of no. 4). 

 Perianth-segments separate. 



Flowers racemed, umbelled, panicled or solitary, terminal. 

 Flowers racemed or panicled. 



Perianth-segments 6. 3. Vagnera, 



Perianth-segments 4. 4. Unifolium. 



Flowers umbelled or solitary. 5. Disporum. 



Flowers solitary or two together, axillary. 6. Streptopus. 



Perianth cylindric or oblong, 6-toothed. 7. Salomonia. 



Leaves nearly basal ; flowers racemed; perianth 6-toothed. 8. Convallaria. 

 Leaves in i or 2 whorls below the flower or flowers. 



Leaves in 2 whorls ; flowers umbelled. 9. Medeola. 



Leaves in I whorl ; flowers solitary. 10. Trillium. 



i. ASPARAGUS L. 



Stem at first simple, fleshy, scaly, at length much branched; the branchlets fili- 

 form and mostly clustered in the axils of the scales in the following species, flattened 

 and linear. Flowers small, solitary, umbelled or racemed. Perianth-segments 

 alike, separate, or slightly united at the base. Stamens inserted at the bases of 

 the perianth-segments; anthers introrse. Ovary sessile, 3-celled; ovules 2 in each 

 cavity; style short; stigmas 3, short, recurved. Berry globose. Seeds few, rounded. 

 [Ancient Greek name.] About 100 species, natives of the Old World. 



i. Asparagus officinalis L. ASPARAGUS. (I. F. f. 1028.) Rootstock much 

 branched. Young stems edible, stout, later branching, and becoming 1-2 m. tall, 

 the filiform branchlets 6-18 mm. long. Flowers mostly solitary at the nodes, green, 

 drooping on filiform jointed peduncles; perianth campanulate, about 6 mm. long, 

 the segments linear ; stamens shorter than the perianth ; berry red, about 8 mm. 

 in diameter. Escaped from cultivation and naturalized, especially along salt 

 marshes, N. B. to Va. and locally in waste places in the interior. Native of 

 Europe. May-June. 



2. CLINTONIA Raf. 



Somewhat pubescent scapose herbs, with slender rootstocks, erect simple scapes, 

 and few broad petioled sheathing basal leaves, the bractless flowers umbelled at the 

 summit of the scape in our species. Perianth-segments equal or nearly so. Sta- 

 mens 6, inserted at the bases of the perianth-segments; filaments filiform ; anthers 

 laterally dehiscent. Ovary 2-3-celled; ovules 2-several in each cavity; stigma 

 obscurely 2-3-lobed. Berry globose or oval. [Name in honor of De Witt Clinton, 

 1769-1828, American naturalist, Governor of the State of New York.] Six species, 

 the following of eastern North America, two Asiatic. 



Flowers greenish yellow, drooping, 1.6-2 cm. long; berry blue. i C. borealis. 



Flowers white, not drooping, 8-10 mm. long ; berry black. 2. C. umbellulata. 



i. Clintonia borealis (Ait.) Raf. YELLOW CLINTONIA. (I. F. f. 1029.) 

 Scape 1.5-4 dm. high. Leaves 2-5, oval, oblong or obovate, thin, ciliate, short- 

 acuminate or cuspidate ; umbel 3-6-flowered ; pedicels 6-30 mm. long, slender, 

 erect or ascending in fruit; stamens about as long as the perianth ; ovary 2-celledj 



