STAR GRASS. 93 
Its mode of growth is not without beauty, the 
leaves spreading close to the ground in a radiated 
manner, like a star; while the spike is supported 
by an almost naked stalk, at a distance above 
them. The names Star Grass and Blazing star 
are generally given to it in the country, from the 
peculiar appearance of its leaves. 
The genus Aletris has its corolla tubular, sia 
cleft, wrinkled, persistent; stamens inserted into 
the base of the segments ; style triangular, separa- 
ble into three ; capsule opening at top, three celled, 
many seeded. ‘The species farinosa, called alba 
by Michaux and Pursh, has its flowers pedicelied, 
oblong-tubular, somewhat wrinkled in fruit; the 
leaves broad lanceolate. Michaux observes that 
of the species referred by Linnzus to this genus, 
the A. farinosa is the only one which strictly 
belongs to it. Class Hewandria ; order Monogy- 
nia; natural orders Liliacew, Linn. Asphodeli, 
Juss. 
This plant has a single circle of radical leaves, 
which are sessile, nerved, lanceolate, and smooth. 
The stem or scape is from one to three feet high, 
invested with remote scales, which sometimes 
expand into small leaves. The flowers form a 
slender, scattered spike with very short pedicels 
and minute bractes. Calyx none. Corolla white, 
