MELANTHACE.1:. 399 ZIfiADENDS. 



Stem 4 inches to a footer more in length. Leaves ^ inch long', 2 inch broad, 

 on petioles 1 — 2 inches long, with a broad sinus at base and a short, abrupt 

 acumination. Spathe closely enveloping the 2 or 3 very evanescent, white 

 flowers. Tube of the perianth ^ inch long, limb in U oblong segments. 

 Filaments inserted at the orifice, 2 of the anthers small, round, yellow, the 

 other oblong, greenish. July. Aug. 



ORDER CLV. MELANTHACE^. The Colchimm Tribe. 



Perinnlh rcjrular, in 2 series, each of 3 segments which are distinct or united at base, gen- 

 Sta.—G., with e.Mrorse anthers. [ernlly involute in ffistiv'ation. 



Ova. — 3-cellcd, 9— many-ovuled. Styles distinct or 0. Stigmas undivided. 

 Fr. — Capsule or berry 3-cellod, generally with septicidal dehiscence. 

 Seeds with a membranous testa, and dense, fleshy albumen. 



Herbs witli bulbs, rhizomas, corms, or fasciculate roots. Leaves parallel (rarely re- 

 ticulate)-veined. 



Pro}>erties. The order is generally pervaded by drastic, narcotic and poisonous qualities, 

 most powerful in Veratrum and Colchicum. The corms and seeds of the latter are the 

 most important medicinal products of the order. Their virtue is due to an a/i-aimt; principle 

 called veratria, which is found in this genus, as well as in most of the others. 



Conspectus of the Genera. 



r Sepals and petals ( Ovaries 1. . . . Jfehnias. 4 



j sessile, without glands, I Ovaries 3. . . . Veratrum. 3 



1 Sepals and petals | Stamens perigynous. . Melanthium. 1 



Leaves alternate . . [ with 2 glands at base. \ Stamens hypogynous. . Zigadenus. 2 



( in two unequal whorls. Mtdeola. 6 



Leaves verticillate, I in a single whorl of 3 'RUHum. 5 



1. MELA'NTHIUM. 



Flowers monoecious'poljgamous; perianth rotate, 6-parted, 

 segments unguiculate, with 2 glands at base, the claws bear- 

 ing the stamens; ovary often abortive; capsule exserted, 

 subovoid, summit trifid and tipped with the 3 persistent 



styles; seeds margined. 



Gr. f^iXcii, black, avBoi ; alluding to the dark color of the flower. Leaves 

 alternate, narrow. Panicle terminal. 



M. Virgi'nicum. 



Leaves linear-lanceolate ; panicle pyramidal ; segments of the 'perianth sub- 

 orbicular, hastate or auriculate at base. Native of wet meadows and margins 

 of swamps. N. York. Rare. Stem 3 — 4 feet high, leafy. Leaves about a 

 foot long, and an inch wide, sessile on a contracted and subclasping base. 

 Flowers greenish yellow, becoming brown, on shoit pedicels, arranged in 

 simple, alternate racemes, and together constituting a pyramidal panicle 10 — 15 

 inches in length. Lower flowers generally sterile. Jul}', Aug. 



2. ZIGADE'NUS. 



Perianth deeply G-parted, spreading, colored, each segment 

 with 2 glands above ils contracted base ; stamens inserted 

 in contact with the ovary ; capsule membranaceous, o-celled, 

 many-seeded. 



Gr. ^i'-jyoi, a pair, aon", a gland ; alluding to the glands of the segment 



