34 ELEMENTS OF BOTANY. 



I. ASPARAGUS. 



Stem from fleshy fibrous roots, erect, branched, branches 

 slender, with filiform branchlets in the axils of scales which 

 take the place of leaves ; flowers small, solitary or racemed, 

 perianth 6-parted, segments distinct or slightly united; 

 stamens 6, perigynous, filaments filiform ; ovary 3-celled, 

 6-ovuled, style short, slender, stigmas 3, recurved ; fruit a 

 globose berry. 



A. OFFICINALIS L. Asparagus. Stem succulent and simple 

 with fleshy scales when young, becoming taller, more woody and 

 widely branched when old ; leaves short, filiform ; flowers axillary, 

 solitary, or 2 or 3 together on slender, jointed, drooping pedicels, 

 greenish, segments linear ; berry red, few-seeded. May-August. 

 Introduced from ICurope, common in cultivation, and often escaped. 



11. POLYGONATUM. 



Rootstock creeping, jointed, scarred; stems simple, erect, 

 scaly below, leafy above ; leaves alternate, oval or oblong ; 

 flowers on axillary, 1-4-flowered, drooping, jointed peduncles, 

 perianth tubular, 6-cleft ; stamens 6, included, inserted about 

 the middle of the tube ; anthers sagittate ; ovary 3-celled, 

 many-ovuled, style slender, stigmas capitate or 3-lobed ; fruit 

 a few-seeded berry. 



1. P. BiFLORUM (Walt.) Ell. Hairy Solomon's Seal. Stem 

 simple, erect, arched, nearly naked below, 1-2 ft. high ; leaves 

 2-rankecl, sessile or clasping, 3-7-nerved, smooth above, pale and 

 pubescent beneath ; peduncles short, 1-4- often 2-flowered, perianth 

 greenish, ^ in. long ; filaments filiform, roughened ; berry dark blue. 

 April-May. Shady banks. 



2. P. coMMUTATUM (R. & S.) Dictr. Smooth Solomon's Seal. 

 Stem simple, stout, curving above, 3-8 ft. high ; leaves lanceolate to 

 ovate, many-nerved, partly clasping, smooth on both sides ; peduncles 

 nearly half as long as the leaves, 2-6-flowered ; perianth greenish 

 yellow, I in. long ; filaments smooth ; berry blue, i in. in diameter. 

 May-June. In rocky woods and along streams. 



III. MEDEOLA. 



Rootstock horizontal, fleshy; stem simple, erect; leaves 

 in two whorls ; flowers perfect, in a sessile umbel ; j^erianth 



