488 MELANTHACEiE. (COLCIIICUM FAMILY.^ 



the apex, longer than the filaments. Styles united : stigma 3-olcft or entire. 

 Berry nearly globose, many-seeded. — Erect herbs, with spreading hraialics. 

 Leaves clasping. Peduncles opposite the leaves, bent or twisted in the middle. 



1. S. roseuS- Michx. Stem much branched, with the branches flexuous 

 and sprinkled with hairs ; leaves ovate, or the uppermost lanceolate, acuminate, 

 slightly clas])ing, eiliate on the margins, 5 - 7-nerved ; flowers mostly solitary, 

 small, rose-color, nodding ; anthers 2-pointed at tlie apex ; stigma 3-clcft. — 

 Shady woods on the mountains of GcorL;ia, and northward. M'ly. — Stem 2° 

 high. Leaves 2'- 4' lung, green on bot!i sides. Flowers 3" - 4" long. 



4. MELANTHIUM, L. 



Flowers monocciously polygamous. Divisions of the perianth spreading, 

 long-clawed, somewhat cordate or hastate and biglandular at the base ; the fila- 

 ments partly adhering to their claws: anthers reniform, becoming peltate, the 

 cells confluent. Styles 3, subulate. Capsule membranaceous, 3-lobed, the cells 

 separating and opening down the inner suture, several-seeded. Seeds flat, 

 winged. — Stems tumid at the base, rough-pubescent above. Leaves long, lin- 

 ear. Flowers panicled, cream-color, turning brownish. 



I. M. Virginicum, L. Stem tall, simple, the upper portion, like the 



loose jjanido, pubescent and somewhat Iio.ay , lowest lcaM.s lon;^-, li.'.jadly lin- 

 ear and clasping, thii upper small ami sessile ; flowers shorter than the pedicels, 

 the upper ones perfect , leaves of the perianth oblong or roundish, often acute, 

 the slender claw adnate to the lower half of tlie filaments ; glands conspicuous. 

 (M. hybridum, Walt., the claws concave and adnate to the filaments below tlio 

 middle ; glands connivcnt or obscure.) — Swamps, Florida, and northward. 

 July and Aug. — Stem 3° - 4° high. Lowest leaves 1° - 1^° long. 



5. ZIGADENUS, Michx. 



Flowers perfect. Leaves of the pcriantli ovate or oblong, spreading, sessile or 

 nearly so, 1 -2-glandular at the base. Filaments free from tlie perianih, and of 

 equal length : anthers broadly cordate, becoming peltate. Styles 3, slender, 

 spreading. Capsule membranaceous, 3-angled, septicidal at the »\)C\, many- 

 seeded. Seeds oblong, wingless, or slightly margined. — Stems smooili and 

 simple. Lowest leaves crowded, linear. Flowers white, in crowded panicles. 



1. Z. glaberrimus, Michx Stem rigid, leafy; lowest leaves broadly 

 linear, elongated, glaucous beneath, the upper small and scattered ; panicle small, 

 rigid ; bracts ovate ; leaves of the perianth oblong, short-clawed, often with ii 

 white callus on one or both sides at the base, glands prominent, stamens and 

 styles subulate; seeds oblong — Pme-barren swamps, Florida to North Carolina. 

 June and July. — Stem 2° -3° hitrh. Lowest leaves l^-l^o long riuiiclo 

 C'-12' long, commonly dense. Flowers 1' in diameter, as long as the ])i(liiel8. 



2. Z. leimanthoides, Gray. Stem slender, somewhat naked above; 

 leaves narrowly linear, green on both sides ; panicle slender; bracts hinccolnte ; 

 leaves of the perianth oval or obovate, sessile, the gland-; obseure or wanting; 



