CLASS HEXANDR1A. 85 



is the genus Erythronium, or DogVtooth Violet, the 

 latter appellation seemingly derived from the oblong 

 and slender form of the bulb, somewhat resembling the 

 canine tooth. The corolla is of 6 petals, and part- 

 ly campanulate, but the petals are reflected, as in die 

 Martagon Lily, though oniy during the shining of the 

 sun. The interior petals have a tooth-like, thickish 

 process, on either side, near their base, and a honeyed 

 pore. The style is club-shaped, and the stigma 

 entire, or 3- cleft. The capsule is superior, partly 

 stipitate or pedicellate ; and the seeds, instead of tri- 

 angular, are ovate. They are all early vernal plants. 

 We have two or three species, the most common, with 

 yellow flowers (E. americanum, Curt. Mag. t. 1113), 

 appearing in moist and shady places, amidst thickets, 

 growing together in extensive clusters, though but iew 

 bulbs flowering at a time, and those that do, sending 

 up 2 lanceolate, brown, blotched leaves, and a low 

 scape with a single nodding flower. The root is a 

 brown, smallish bulb, not unlike that of a Tulip. 



In similar situations with the last plant, and flower- 

 ing nearly about the same early period, you will find 

 frequently some species of the genus Uvularia, which 

 might, from its aspect, be called Bellwort ; a plant, 

 also, of the Liliaceje order. The inferior corolla 

 consists of 6 erect petals, with a nectariferous cavity 

 at the base of each. The filaments are very short 

 and adnate, or inseparably adherent to the anthers ; 

 the stigma reflected. The capsule about as abroad 

 as long, triangular, 3-celled, 3-valved, each valve 

 with a central dissepiment. The seeds are numerous 

 and partly globular, with an arillus or process at the 

 scar or hilum. They are all low growing, fleshy, 

 fibrous-rooted plants, with elegantly forked, though 

 not much divided, stems, having alternate, oval, or 

 elliptic leaves, and smallish yellow, not well opened, 

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