320 Liliaceae Polygonatum 



forms and from the second to the third leaf axil of the narrowleaf forms; flowers 

 single or in twos on the narrowleaf forms and in clusters of 2-8 on the wideleaf 

 forms; stems of the narrowleaf forms usually much more curved than those of the 

 tall wideleaf forms; flowers mostly 15-19 mm long; filaments of stamens glabrous 

 or nearly so; rhizomes deep in the ground (usually 1-1.5 dm); the narrowleaf forms 

 usually in woodland, the wideleaf forms usually along roadsides and in clearings 

 and open places 2 - P - biflorum complex. 



1. Polygonatum pubescens (Willd.) Pursh. (Polygonatum bifiorum of 

 recent authors.) Hairy Solomon 's-seal. Map 656. Frequent in moist, rich 

 woods in the northern two thirds of the state, becoming very rare in the 

 southern part. I have 86 specimens of my own collecting from which I 

 made this study. 



N. B. and N. S. to Ont., Mich., southw. to Fla. and Tex. 



2. Polygonatum biflorum (Walt.) Ell. (complex). (Polygonatum com- 

 mutatum.) Smooth Solomon's-seal. This species complex is found 

 throughout the state: the tall plants with wide leaves usually along 

 roadsides and fences and in open places in general except in cultivated 

 fields; the small plants with narrow leaves are generally found in moist 

 woodland. The fleshy, insipid fruit is eaten by birds and the stony seeds 

 are widely distributed. The wideleaf form is of a somewhat weedy nature. 

 The rhizomes are deep in the ground and if the terminal end is broken off 

 the plant persists. For this reason it is difficult to eradicate from flower 



beds. 



My study of this species complex was made from 155 specimens which 

 I have collected from all parts of the state. I am not satisfied with the 

 treatment of this species but I am not able to find differences sufficient to 

 distinctly separate them. My specimens form a lineal series and when I 

 have used the term wideleaf and narrowleaf forms it is in a general sense. 

 I do not think they are all the same species and I think a character may 

 sometime be found that will separate them satisfactorily. The genus has 

 been monographed by three authors and my specimens have been seen by 

 one of them but I can not accept their treatment of this complex. 



Since the preceding was written a monographic study of the genus has 

 been undertaken by Miss Ruth E. Peck who has studied all my specimens. 

 I now learn that this complex is composed of at least Polygonatum biflorum 

 (Walt.) Ell. and Polygonatum canaliculatum (Muhl.) Pursh. See maps 657 

 and 657a. I refer students of this complex to the forthcoming monograph. 



A form of this species from St. Joseph County was described by McGiv- 

 ney (Amer. Midland Nat. 9: 662-664. 1925.) under the name of Polygona- 

 tum commutatum f. ramosum McGivney. It differs from the species by 

 having short branches in the leaf axils and is our only report of this form. 



Western N. H. to Man. and Rocky Mts., southw. to Ga., La., N. Mex., 

 and Ariz. 



1128. CONVALLARIA L. Lily-of-the-V alley 

 See excluded species no. 140, p. 1035. 



