368 IIEXANDRIA. TRIGYNIA, melanthium. 



nearly glabrous, embracing the stem ; the midrib rather dis- 

 tinct. Panicle long, composed of simple racemes. Flowers 

 somewhat distant, on peduncles twice the length of the petals ; 

 sterile and fertile flowers mixed in each panicle. Petah per- 

 sistent, orbicular, plaited, waved or repand on the margin, (not 

 changing with age, Mich.); ^'/ands forming an emarginate 

 circle at the summit of the claw, with a furrow along the cen- 

 tre. 5to/«ens as long as the petals. 5^y/M expanding. JS Z/. 

 Cafisule large, appearing like 3 united by the inner margins, 

 3 — 5, and probably sometimes 6-seed, Seeds imbricated, flat, 

 subelliptic, with a double alated margin, about the size of the 

 seeds of some species of Pinus. JVu 1 1. 

 Hab. In Pennsylvania. Muhlenberg. 



253. VERATRUM, L. 



Polygamous. — Calyx 0. Corolla 6-parted, expand- 

 ing; segments sessile, without glands. Stamens in- 

 serted upon the receptacle. Capsules 3, united, many- 

 seeded. Gen. pi. 1564. Nutt. Gen, I. p. 233. 

 Juss. p. 47. Lam. ///. t. DCCCL. Nat. Ord. 



JuNCEiE Juss. MeLAJJTHACEJE M. Br 0W7U 



Green and JVhite Hellebore. 



V. viride A it.: racemes paniculate; bracts of the 

 branches oblong-lanceolate ; partial ones longer than the sub- 

 pubescent peduncles; leaves broad-ovate, plicate. Ait. 

 Ktw. Vll. p. 422. Willd. Spec. IV. p. 890. Pursh FL 

 1. p. 242. iB{^. Bo5/. p. 246. E I li o 1 1 Sk. I. p. 4\d. 

 Y . alhum M i c h. FL II. p. 249. Helonias viridis Bot. 

 Mag. 1096. Veratrum, Cold. Koveb. 79. 



Root large, with thick white descending fibres. Stem 3—4 feet 

 high, erect, terete, pubescent. Leaves 6 — 8 inches long, 2 — S 

 broad, longitudinally plicate, acuminate, entire, sheathing the 

 stem at their base. Panicle large, terminal, pyramidal; 

 branches pubescent, attenuate, with leafy bracts at their base \ 

 upper ones bearing staminiferous flowers ; the inferior ones 

 perfect. Corolla greenish, persistent ; fietals oblong, acute, 

 thickened on each side of the base. Stamens shorter than the 

 corolla ; filaments smooth, subulate, inserted at the base of the 

 gernien; anthers roundish, incumbent, turned outwards. 

 Germen oblong, acute, reflexed ; stigmas simple. Cafisules 3, 

 united. Seeds numerous, ovate, compressed. 



IIab. In shady swamps. June — July. 



Swamfi Hellebore. — Poke-root- 



254. HELONIAS. L. 

 Corolla 6-parted, spreading; segments sessile, with- 



