MELANTHACEAE 253 



raceme many-flowered: perianth yellow: sepals and petals about 5 mm. long, subeordate, 

 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 Mich.x. 



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 glaberrimus Michx. Foliage glaucous. Stems 5-12 dm. tall, paniculate 

 above: leaf-blades linear, 1-4 dm. long or shorter above, alternate, finely ribbed, attenuate, 

 often approximate on the lower part of the stem: panicles 1-3 dm. long, the branches as- 

 cending: 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 cm. 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-ceIled, 3-lobed, membranous. Seeds flat, winged. Bunch- 



FLOWEH. 



Blades of the sepals and petals suborbicular, undulate or crisped: leaf-blades mani- 

 festly 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 latifolium 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 sessile 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 dispersum 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. 



