CONVALLAKIACEAE 269 



1. ASPARAGUS L. 



Caulescent herbs, with elongated rootstocks. Stems first arising as simple scaly stalks 

 (these often edible), finally branched. Leaves all reduced to scales. Branchlets filiform 

 to linear or ovate, often clustered in the axils of the scale-like leaves. Flowers solitary in 

 the axils, or sometimes in racemes or umbels. Perianth nodding : sepals and petals alike, 

 distinct or slightly united at the base. Stamens 6, inserted at the base of the perianth: 

 filaments usually filiform : anthers introrse. Ovary 3-celled : stigmas 3. Ovules 2 in 

 each cavity. Berry drooping, pulpy. Seeds few or solitary, often black. 



1. Asparagus officinalis L. Eootstocks much branched. Foliage glabrous, glau- 

 cescent : stems at first stout, with broad scales, edible, becoming 4-20 dm. tall, widely 

 branching, conspicuous on account of the numerous thread-like branchlets clustered in the 

 axils of minute scales : flowers mostly solitary at the nodes, drooping from recurved pedi- 

 cels : perianth greenish, 4-6 nun. long : sepals and petals linear, obtuse, erect, or with 

 spreading tips : stamens shorter than the perianth : berries subglobose, red, 6-8 mm. in 

 diameter. 



In waste places and salt raarshes, New Brunswick to Georgia and Louisiana. Naturalized from 

 Europe. Spring to fall. Asparagus. 



2. CLINTONIA Eaf. 



Scapose herbs, witli horizontal rootstocks and pubescent foliage. Leaves normal, 

 basal : blades flat, thickish, the petiole-like bases sheathing. Scape solitary, simple. 

 Flowers in terminal umbels, or rarely solitary or racemose. Perianth erect or drooping : 

 sepals and petals equal or nearly so, distinct, deciduous. Stamens 6, inserted at the base 

 of the perianth : filaments filiform : anther-sacs opening laterally, or nearly so. Ovary 

 2 or o-celled, sessile : stigma slightly 2- or 3-lobed. Ovules 2-several in each cavity. Berry 

 not drooping. Seeds 2-many, rounded or angled. 



Perianth greenish yellow : sepals and petals over 1 cm. long : flowers nodding : berries blue. 



1. C. borealis. 

 Perianth white : sepals and petals less than 1 cm. long : flowers erect : berries black. 2. C. umbellulata. 



1. Clintonia borealis (Ait.) Eaf. Foliage deep green. Leaf -blades oblong, elliptic 

 or oval, 1-3 dm. long, ovate or abruptly pointed, ciiiate, sheathing at the base : scapes 

 erect, surpassing the leaves, pubescent above : flowers sometimes in racemes : perianth 

 greenish yellow, 1.5-2 cm. long, nodding: sepals and petals linear or linear-lanceolate, 

 1.5-2 cm. long, pubescent without : berries oval or subglobose, 8-9 mm. in diameter, blue. 



In deep woods, Newfoundland to Minnesota, North Carolina and Wisconsin. Spring. 



2. Clintonia umbellulata (Michx. ) Torr. Foliage bright gx'een. Leaf -blades ob- 

 long, oblong-spatulate or elliptic, 1-3 dm. long, acute or abruptly pointed, ciiiate, sheath- 

 ing at the base : scapes erect, as long as the leaves or 1.5 dm. longer, rai-ely bearing a 

 leaf-like scale, pubescent, especially above : umbel 5-15-flowered : pedicels ascending or 

 upcurved, 1-3 cm. long : perianth white, spotted with green or purple : sepals and petals 

 elliptic to oval, about 5 mm. long : berries subglobose, 5-7 mm. in diameter, black. 



In woods and on hillsides, New York to Georgia and Alabama. Spring. 



3. VAGNERA Adans. 



Caulescent herbs, with elongated rootstocks. Leaves cauline : blades thickish, several- 

 nerved. Flowers in terminal racemes or panicles. Perianth white or greenish white : 

 sepals and petals 3 each, equal, distinct or nearly so. Stamens 6, often conspicuous : fila- 

 ments filiform, or slightly flattened, inserted at the base of the perianth : anthers introrse. 

 Ovary sessile, 3-celled : stigma 3-grooved or 3-lobed. Ovules 2 in each cavity. Berry 

 subglobose, sometimes mottled. Seeds 1-2, with a thin testa. [ Smilacina Desf.] Wild 

 Spikenard. 



Sepals and petals broadly linear : filaments inflated, about as long as the perianth. 1. V. racemosa. 



Sepals and petals narrowly linear : filaments flat, twice as long as the perianth. 2. V. mtstralis. 



1. Vagnera racemosa (L. ) Morong. Stems erect or ascending, 3-9 dm. tall, more 

 or less zigzag, slightly angled : leaf-blades oblong, oblong-lanceolate or elliptic, 5-20 cm. 

 long, acute or acuminate, several-nerved, sessile : panicles 3-10 cm. long, not very dense, 

 the branches usually pubescent : perianth white, about 4 mm. broad, glabrous or nearly 

 so : sepals and petals broadly linear : filaments about as long as the sepals and petals, in- 



