Biological Papers. 119 



umbeled. Leaves (laminodia) usually alternate, sometimes verticillate, 

 and again reduced to evanescent scales. Asparagus has under each dry 

 scale a cluster of minute green branchlets which serve as prophylla. Per- 

 ianth-segments united at the base and six-parted, urceolate and six-lobed, 

 or cylindric and six-toothed. Stamens borne on the perianth-segments or 

 at the base of the carpel. Ovules anatropous or amphitropous; stigma three- 

 lobed; fruit a fleshy berry. 



735. Asparagus officinalis L. Asparagus. Frequently escapes into the 

 woods and thickets for a number of years. Lasts longer on salty soil. 



736-7. Asparagus plumosus, sprengeri, etc. Cultivated on account of 

 their green prophylla, or minute branchlets, which answer the purpose of 

 foliage and keep green long without wilting, when in a bouquet. 



73S. Smilacina racemosa Desfontaines. {Vagnera Morong.) Wild- 

 spikenard. Moist thickets, near streams, E. K. ; frequent. May. (ASU) 



739. Smilacina stellata Desf. Blue-flowered Wild-spikenard. Moist 

 soil, near water, W. K., to Salinaand Hutchinson; frequent. May. (ASU) 



740. Streptopus amplexifolius D. C. Clasp-leaf Twist-foot. Moist 

 woods, Montgomery county; occasional. May. (U) 



741. Polygonatumbiflorum Elliott. Two-flowered Solomon-seal. Thick- 

 ets, general; common. May. (ASU) 



742. Polygonatum commutatum Dietr. Great Solomon-seal. Thickets 

 and river banks; general over the state; common. June. (ASU) 



743. Convallaria majalis L. Lily-of-the-valley. Has slight tendency to 

 escape from gardens. 



744. Trillium viride Beckw. Kansas Trillium. Rich woods and open 

 hillsides, Miami and Johnson counties, perhaps elsewhere; not common. 

 May. (U) Petals light green or purplish green; filaments flat. 



745. Trillium viridescens Nutt. Narrow-leaf Trillium. Hillsides and 

 rich woods, E. K. (Britton's Manual, 1907.) Petals very narrow. 



Order XXVIL SMILACALES. The Greenbriers and Yams. 

 Inflorescence in umbels, racemes, or panicles; flowers small, greenish, 

 monoecious or dicecious. Perianth-segments six, alike, deciduous or per- 

 sistent. Androecium normally of six stamens, sometimes of three stamens 

 and three staminodia. Gynoecium an inferior trilocular ovulary, with or 

 without wings. Plants exogenous, with many dicotyl characters, such as 

 net-veined laminae articulated with the petiole, stomata transversely inter- 

 cellular on the under surface of the laminae, and petiole articulated with 

 the vine. Yet they have but one cotyledon and the flowers are liliaceous. 



Family 53. Smilacace^. Greenbrier Family. 

 Thorny, woody vines, climbing by stipular tendrils from woody root- 

 stocks. Inflorescence in globular axillary umbels, of very many small 

 hexaphyllous hexandrous flowers. Perianth-segments distinct. Stamens 

 distinct; filaments ligulate; anthers basifixed, introrse. Ovulary trilocular, 

 the loculi opposite the inner perianth-segments; ovules one or two in each 

 loculus, orthotropous. Fruit a globose berry, containing one to six brown- 

 ish seeds; endosperm horny, copious; embryo small, remote from the 

 hilum. 



746. Smilax herbacea L. Carrion-flower. Thickets, E. K.; occasional, 

 not common. May. (ASU) Has no bad odor. 



