226 HEXANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 



332. ASPARAGUS. L. 



Corolla inferior, G-parted, erect,* the 3 inte- 

 rior segments reflerted towards the points* 

 Shjle very short. Stigmata 3. Berry 3-celied, 

 many-seeded. 



Leaves fasclci-ilated, usually subulate or setaceous 

 Stems branched, herbaceous or frutescent; flowers mostly 

 solitary and axillary'; spatha 2-valved. In some species 

 tlie branchlets and fascicles ot leaves are each subtended 

 by a spine. 



Species. 1. A. oj^cinalis. Scarcely yet naturalized in 

 the United States. 



The principal part of this genus is indigenous to the 

 Cape of Good Hope, there are also a few species in India 

 and in the south of Europe. 



tttt Flowers incomplete. 



333. ORONTIUM. L, (Golden Glub.) 

 Spadix cylindric, covered with florets. Corol- 

 la about 6-petalled, naked. Style and stigma 

 scarcely any. Utriculus 1 -seeded. 



Spatha radical; spadix pedicellate; flowers hermaphro- 

 dite; the lowest with 6 stamina, the upper with 4. Leaves 

 entire, the lamina vertically coalescing with the petiole. 



Species. 1. O.aqiiaticum. From Canada to Carolina, 

 almost exclusively within the limits of tide-water? in river 

 marshes. Obs. Pediceil of the spadix nearly semicylin- 

 dric, upper part white, flowering portion bright yellow, 

 cylindric-conic; lower flowers with 6 or 5, hooded, and 

 dilated flower scales, and as many stamina disposed under 

 them; upper flower scales generally 4, with 4 stamens. 

 Filaments about the length of the anthers, flat, disposed 

 around the base of the angular germ. Anthers 2- celled, 

 adnate to the filaments, at first large, bursting by almost 

 terminal scars or oblique cicatrices, at length appearing 

 like short poliniferous cups, which are persistent and 

 marcescent. Style none, stigma obsolete, in the form of a 

 small and, at length, somewhat prominent, umbilical punc- 

 ture or variolus. Utriculus naked, green, roundisli, 1- 

 seeded, the size of a large pea. Gemmula viviparous, or 

 commencing to vegetate as soon as mature, (cotyledones 

 none,) primary vaginyte leaves 2 or 3, linear, and subu- 

 late; the 4th leaf usually exhibiting a small lamina. Pri- 



