276 



PROCEEDINGS OP THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



39. MELANTHIUM, Linn. 



* Perianth-segments with a conspicuous double gland at the summit of the 



claw. 



1. M. Virginicum, Linn. Stem 3 to 5 feet high, leafy, rather 

 slender: leaves linear, 4 to 10 lines wide, only the lowest sheathing: 

 perianth-segments flat, ovate to oblong or slightly hastate, 2-i- to 4 

 lines long: capsule ovate, half an inch long: seeds 10 in each cell, 

 2 or 3 lines long. — M. Virginicum and monoicum, Walt. M.polyga- 

 mum, Desrouss. Leimanthium Virginicum, Willd. Helonias, Sims, 

 Bot. Mag. t. 985. Veratrum, Ait. f. Zygadenus, Endl. M. biglandu- 

 losum, Bertol. Bot. Misc. 10. 34. From Canada to Carolina and 

 Texas. 



2. M. latifolium, Desrouss. Leaves more oblanceolate, often 

 2 inches broad : perianth-segments undulate, 2 or 3 lines long, the 

 very narrow claw nearly equalling the orbicular or ovate blade : 

 capsule 6 to 8 lines long ; styles more slender : seeds 4 to 8 in each 

 cell, 3 or 4 lines long. — Lam. Diet. 4. 25. 31. hybridum, Walt. ? 

 M. racemosum, Michx. Leimanthium hybridum, Schult. f. Zygadenus 

 hybridus, Endl. Connecticut to South Carolina. The identity of 

 Walter's M. hybridum is doubtful. 



* * Gland wanting : perianth-segments oblanceolate. 



3. M. parviflouum. Stem rather slender, 2 to 5 feet high, 

 sparingly leafy: leaves oval to oblanceolate (2 to 4 inches wide), on 

 long petioles, only the lowest sheathing : perianth-segments oblanceo- 

 late or spatulate, 2 or 3 lines long, attenuate at base : stamens very 

 short : capsule half an inch long ; seeds 4 to G in each cell, 4 lines 

 long. — Veratrum parvijlorum, Michx.; Gray, Manual, 525. Leiman- 

 thium monoicum, Gray, Melanth. 116. Zygadenus monozcus, Kunth. 

 Alleghanies (Virginia to S. Carolina). 



40. VERATRUM, Tourn. 



* Stem slender, sparingly leafy ; leaves oblanceolate, only the lowest sheathing : 

 flowers greenish purple ; segments entire : ovary tomentose, soon glabrate : 

 capsule ovate, acute, the cells few-seeded. 



1. V. Woodii, Robbins. Stem slender, 2 to 5 feet high, sparingly 

 leafy : leaves oblanceolate, 1 or 2 inches broad or more, on long petioles : 

 panicle very narrow : pedicels 2 lines long or less, somewhat longer in 

 fruit : perianth-segments nearly glabrous, oblanceolate, 3 or 4 lines long : 

 stamens a little shorter, reddish : capsule a half -inch long. — Wood, 

 Class-Book, 2 ed. 557 ; Gray, Manual, 526. Indiana to Missouri. 



