488 ^ MKLANTIIACEyK. (COI,* II KIM lAMII.Y.; 



tlio apex, li)iij,'cr fliaii tlio filaments. Styles united : stigma .^-eleft or entire. 

 Berry nearly gloltose, iniiny-seeded — Ereet herbs, with spreadiiij^ hraiieliutt. 

 Leaves elius])ing. IVduneles opposite the leaves, bent or twisted in the middle. 



1. S. rOSeUS, Michx. Stem nuuli hranebed, wiili the liratuhes flexuous 

 and sjjrinkled witii liai^s ; leaves ovate, or the uppermost lanceolate, acuminate, 

 slightly clasping, ciliate on the margins, 5 - 7-nerved ; flowers mostly solitary, 

 small, rose-color, nodding; anthers 2-pointed at the apex; stigma 3-(lift. — 

 Shady woods on the mountains of Georgia, and northward. May. — Stem 2° 

 hiijh. Leaves 2' -4' long, green on both sides. Flowers 3" - 4" long. 



4. MELANTHIUM, L. 



Flowers monoeciously 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. 



1. M. Virginieum, L. Stem tall, simple, the upper portion, like the 

 loose panicle, pubescent and somewhat hoary , lowest leaves long, broadly lin- 

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

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

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

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

 middle ; glands connivent 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 perianth ovate or oblong, spreading, sessile or 

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

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

 spreading. Capsule membranaceous, 3-angled, septicidal at the apex, many- 

 seeded. Seeds oblong, wingless, or slightly margined. — Stems smooth 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 a 

 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° high. Lowest leaves JO-l^o long. Panicle 

 6' -12' long, commonly dense. Flowers 1' in diameter, as long as the pedicels. 



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

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

 leaves of the perianth oval or obovate, sessile, the glands obscure or wanting; 



