540 CXLVIII. H.EMODORACEJE, Lophiola. 



mass of leaves, to the height of 15 — 25f, bearing a pyramidal panicle. Flowers 

 yellow. There is a variety with striped leaves. 



5. HYPOXIS. 



Gr. vTT(i), under, o^vs, sharp; on account of the pointed base of the fruit. 



Spathe 2-leaved ; perianth persistent ; capsule elongated, narrowed 

 at the base ; seeds numerous, roundish, with a black, crustaceous in- 

 tegument. — Small, bulbous, grass-like plants, with yellow Jlowers. Lvs. 

 radical, linear. 



H. ERECTA. Sfar-grass. 



Pilose ; scape about 4-flowered, shorter than the linear-lanceolate leaves. 

 — In woods and meadows, Can. and U. S. Leaves all radical, 6 — 12' by 3 — 5", 

 very acute. The slender, hairy scapes, several from the same root, arise 6 — 8', 

 divided at top into a sort of umbel with 3 — 5 peduncles having each a minute, 

 subulate spathe at the base. Perianth hairy and greenish without, yellow 

 within ; segments oval, rather obtuse. June. ' 



Order CXLVIII. H^MODORACEJE.— Bloodroots. 



Heris with fibrous, perennial roots and perfect flowers. . ,- j • i 



Lvs. permanent, ensiform, equitant, usually in 2 ranks. [rylindncal tube 



Perianth more or less woolly, adherent, the sepals and petals often indistinguishable, and united into a 



Sta. arising from the perianth, either 3 and opposite the sepals, or 6. 



Ova. 1 or 3-celled, cells 1, 2, or maiiy-ovuled. Stij. and stig: simple. 



Ft. — Capsule covered with the w ilhered perianth, valvular, seldom indehiscent 



Sds. defuiite or indefinite. Bminjo short, straight, in cartilaginous albumen. 



Genera 13, species 50, sparingly occurring in N. America, S. Africa, New Holland, &c. The root of 

 Lacnanthes tinctoria abounds in a red coloring matter. One of the most intense bitters known is Aletria 

 farinosa. 



Conspectus oftlic Genera. 



(3 LacnantJies. 1 



< ^ Perianth woolly, 6-parted. Lophiola. 2 

 Stamens ( 6. ^ Perianth mealy, 6-toothed. Aletris. 3 



1. LACNANTHES. Elliot. 



Gr. Xa^vn, soft hair, av^oi ; in allusion to the woolly corollas. 



Perianth woolly, tube adherent ; calyx lobes exterior, of 3 linear 

 sepals, as long as the 3 lance-oblong petals ; stam. 3, equaling tho 

 sepals, and opposite to them ; stig. minutely 2-lobed ; caps. 3-oelled, 

 truncated, many-seeded. — Lvs. la?iceolate-linear. Fls. corymbose. 



L. TINCTORIA. Ell. (Dilatris. Pursh.) Red-root. 



Swamps and borders of ponds, Pv,. I., Olney'. N. .T. to Flor. An interest- 

 ing plant, with ru.sh-like leaves. Stem erect, strict, 18 — 24' high, clothed with 

 white wool above. Leaves mostly radical, fleshy, 3 — 4" wide and nearly as 

 high as the stem. Cauline leaves remote and bract-like. Corymb terminal, 

 close, 15 — 30-flowered. Flowers densely clothed with white wool outside, gla- 

 brous and yellow within. Anthers bright yellow. Jl. — The root is said to be 

 employed in dyeing. 



2. LO PHI (5 LA. Ker. 



Gr. \oipoi, a crest ; alluding to the crested petals. 



Perianth half superior, 6-cleft, persistent, woolly ; petals narrower 

 than the sepals, somewhat interior ; sta. 6 ; filament naked ; anthers 

 erect : style conical, 3-partible ; stigma simple ; capsule opening at 

 the summit, 3-celled, 3-valved, many-seeded. — Lvs. ensiform. Fls. 

 corymbose. 



L. Americana. Wood. (L. aurea. Ker. Conostyles. Br.) Golden Crest- 



floivcr. — Sandy swamps, pine barrens, N. J. Stem 1 — 2f high, erect, 



hoary-tomentose when young. Leaves glaucous, narrowly linear, two-edged, 



glabrous, the lower and radical long, cauline 2 or 3, shorter. Corymb finally 



much expanded, many-flowered. Corolla woolly and yellow within, segments 



