MKLANTHACE^. 



401 



Lat. irilix, triple; because the sepals, petals, carpels, cells, stigmas and 

 leaves are in 3s. Stem simple. Leaves reticulate-palinale- veined. Flowers 

 solitary, terminal. 



1. T. ERE'CTUM. L. T. atropurpureum. Cart. 

 Leaves rhomboidal, acuminate, sessile ; ■peduncle inclining ; flnice.r nodding ; 



petals scarcely longer, but much broader than the sepals. A conspicuous 

 plant in woods, of tine appearance, but of an intolerably offensive odor. At 

 the top of the stem, which is a foot high, is a whorl of 3 leaves which are 

 3-nerved, 3 — 5 inches long, of etjual width, and a single, nodding flower, on 

 a nearly c/cc< pedimcle. Petals broad-ovate, an inch long, twice as wide as 

 tlie sepals and of a dusky purple, greenish outside. May. Batli Flower. 



/3. album ; Jloiccrs white and much smaller. 



2. T. ERVTIIROCA'RPUM. Mx. T. pictum. p. 

 Leaves ovate, acuminate, rounded at base, abruptly petioled ; ■peduncle erect ; 



petals lanceolate-ovate, recurved, twice as long as the sepals. A beautiful 

 flower, adorning our woods m May and June. Stem 8 — \'Z inches higli, with 

 a whorl of 3 brolid-ovate leaves at top. These are 3-nerved, rounded at base, 

 long acuminate, 3 — 4 inches long, | as wide, petiole 1 — 2 lines long. T'lower 

 nearly erect. I'etals wavy at the edges, white, finely radiated with purple 

 lines at base. The root is considered medicinal. Smiling Wakc-rvbvn. 



3. T. ce'rnuu.m. 



Leaves suborbicular-rhomboidal, abruptly acuminate, shortly petiolate ; 

 flower cernuous. on a recurved peduncle. A large species, with a small 

 flower. Stem slender, 10 — 15 inches high. Leaves 3 — 5 inches in diameter, 

 nearly round, on petioles a line long. Flower white, pendulous beneath the 

 leaves. Sepals and petals ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, flat, J inch in length. 

 Grows in thickets. xN. Y. May, June. JVudding Trillium. 



4. T. GRANDIFLO'RUM. Sulisb. 



Leaces broadly rhomboid-ovate, sessile, abruptly acuminate; pedu-ncle in- 

 clined ; flower subeiect ; petals much longer than the calyx, spathulate- 

 oblanceolate, connivent at base. Damp, rocky woods. Abundant at Fotsdam, 

 N. Y., &.C. Stem 8 — 12 inclies liigh. Leaves 3—5 inches in diameter. 

 Flower larger than in any of the preceding species. Petals II — 2 inches in 

 lengtii, broadest near tlie ape.x, with a short, abrupt acumiuation, white, 

 varying to rose-colored. May. 



G. MEDE'OLA. 

 Perianth deeply [)artc(l into G petaloid, revolule segments; 

 filignaas 3, (livaricalc, uiiiLclI al base ; berry 3-celled ; cells 

 3 — 6-seedt'd. 



Named for the fabulous sorceress, Medea ; for its supposed medicinal 

 virtues. Stem simiile. 



M. Virgi'nica. 



Lf.nvcs verlicillate in the middle of the stem, 3 at the top. None can but ad- 

 mire tiie symmetry of i!s form Rhizoma white, fleshy, tuberous, ivsrnibling 

 the cucumber in flavor. Stern erect,! — 2 feet high, invested with loose, 

 downy wool. Leaves in two wiiorls, one ju.st above the middle of the stem, 

 consisting of G — ^ wedge-lanceohite leaves (3—4 inciies long.i as wide) ; tlie 

 other at tlie top, of 3 ov~ate shorter ones. Flowers in the upper whorl, 1,2 or 

 3, pendulous, with greenish, revolute segments, 'i'he stigmas are very long, 

 reflexed. dark red. Woods. Julv. Cucumber -rcot. 



II* 



