TAMACEAE. 81 



2.5-3.5 cm. long, pale-yellow: crown carapanulate, deep-yellow, mostly longer 

 than the perianth-lobes, the toothed edge more or less spreading: anthers much 

 shorter than the filaments: capsules obovoid, mostly 1.5-2 cm. long. — Eare, 

 locally naturalized. Nat. of Eu. — Spr. — Daffodil. 



Family 2. TAMACEAE. Yam Family. 



Perennial vines with rootstoeks. Leaves often opposite, or whorled 

 near the base of the stem : blades ribbed and netted-veined. Flowers 

 monoecious or dioecious, or rarely perfect, in axillaiy clusters. Calyx of 

 3 sepals. Corolla of 3 petals resembling the sepals. Androecium of 3-6 

 stamens, imperfect in pistillate flowers. Gynoeeium of 3 united carpels, 

 imperfect in staminate flowers. Ovary inferior. Styles 3. Ovules 1 or 2 

 in each cavity of the ovary. Fruit a 3-winged, 3-valved capsule, or 

 baccate. 



1. DIOSCOEEA [Plum.] L. Upper leaves alternate: blades mainly cor- 

 date. Flowers rather inconspicuous. Sepals and petals mainly green or whitish, 

 those of the pistillate flowers persistent. — Early sum. — Wild yam-root. 



Lower leaves typically alternate; blades green or pale-pubescent beneath: pistillate 

 racemes many-fruited. !■ D. villosa. 



Lower leaves whorled in 4's to 7's ; blades glaucous beneath : pistillate 



racemes few-fruited. 2. D. glauca. 



1. D. villosa L. Eootstocks slender, elongate, rarely forked, with few more 

 slender lateral branches: lower petioles glabrous or sparingly pubescent at the 

 apex: leaf -blades broadly ovate or orbicular-ovate, mostly 6-13 cm. long, more 

 or less pubescent beneath or sometimes glabrous: pistillate racemes many- 

 flowered: fruits numerous, suborbicular, varying to orbicular-obovate or obreni- 

 f orm, 2 cm. long or less. — Occasional, in moist thickets and woods. 



2. D. glauca Muhl. Eootstocks stout, over 1 cm. thick, often forked and with 

 many short stout lateral branches: lower petioles densely pubescent at the apex: 

 leaf-blades ovate to orbicular-ovate, or rarely ovate-lanceolate, sometimes undu- 

 late, glaucous and usually finely pubescent beneath: staminate sepals oval: 

 pistillate racemes few-flowered: fruits few, suborbicular to broadly obovate or 

 obrenif orm, 2-3.5 cm. long. — Frequent, in thickets and rich woods. 



Family 3. IXIACEAE. Iris Family. 



Perennial, mostly caulescent herbs with short or long rootstoeks. 

 Leaves equitant, mostly elongate. Flowers perfect, mostly regular, arising 

 from spathe-like bracts. Calyx of 3 sepals. Corolla similar to the calyx 

 or of 3 veiy different members. Androecium of 3 stamens, the filaments 

 partially adnate to the perianth. Gynoeeium of 3 united carpels. Ovary 

 inferior. Styles entire or divided, sometimes petal-like. Ovules few or 

 numerous. Fruit a loculicidal 3-valved capsule. 



Styles alternate with the stamens. 



Filaments distinct : seeds drupe-like. 1. Gemmingia. 



Filaments wholly or partially united : seeds dry. 2. Sisyrinchium. 



Styles opposite or arching over the stamens. 3. Ieis. 



1. GEMMINGIA Fabr. Caulescent herbs with horizontal rootstoeks. 

 Leaf-blades folded. Flowers in corymbose cymes. Sepals and petals pink or 

 reddish, nearly equal, distinct or nearly so, persistent and coiled on the capsule. 



1. G. chinensis (L.) Kuntze. Stem 3-13 dm. tall: leaf -blades with the faces 

 united above the middle: sepals and petals oblong to elliptic, 2.5-3.5 cm. long: 

 Lancaster County Flora 6. 



