490 LILIACEJE. (ULY FAMILY.) 
2. POLIGONATUM, Tourn. Solomon’s Seal. 
Perianth tubular, 6-lobed at the summit; the 6 stamens insert¬ 
ed on or above the middle of the tube, included. Ovary 3-celled, 
with 2-6 orthotropous ovules in each cell: style slender : stigma 
capitate or triangular. Berry globular, black or blue ; the cells 
1 -2-seeded. — Perennial herbs, with simple erect or curving stems 
from creeping thick and knotted rootstocks, chiefly alternate and 
sessile or half-clasping nerved leaves, and axillary nodding green¬ 
ish flowers. (The ancient name, from rro\vs , many, and y6w, 
knee, alluding to the many joints of the rootstocks and stems.) 
1. P. canaliculatum, Pursh. (Great Solomon’s Seal.) 
Stem stout, angled or channelled (3° -5° high) ; leaves oblong-ovate, 
obtusely pointed, partly clasping, smooth and green both sides, al¬ 
most equally many-nerved ; peduncles 2-6-flowered, smooth; filaments 
smooth , shorter than the anthers, inserted on the middle of the tube 
of the cylindrical-oblong perianth. (P. latifolium, Pursh. Convalla- 
ria canaliculatum, Jtfuhl .) — Rich river-banks and copses. June.— 
Nearer P. vulgare than any other, but far larger, the flowers shorter. 
2- P. pubcscens, Pursh. (Smaller Solomon’s Seal.) 
Stem terete or barely grooved on one side (1°—2° high); leaves ovate- 
oblong or elliptical-lanceolate, minutely downy and glaucous under¬ 
neath, with 3-5 principal nerves , sessile; peduncles 1—2-flowered, 
smooth ; filaments minutely glandular-puberulent, inserted towards the 
summit of the cylindrical-oblong perianth. (P. pubesc., angustifolium, 
and multiflorum ? Pursh. Conv. pubescens, Muhl. in IVilld. /) 
Woods and rocky banks, common. May, June. — Perianth long, 
greenish. Ovules often 6 in each cell (as also in P. vulgare). — P 
multifl6rum, Desf, which has a slender and somewhat funnel-form 
more colored perianth, and downy filaments, I have not yet seen in 
this country. 
3. SMILACINA, Desf. False Solomon’s Seal. 
Perianth 4-6-parted, spreading, deciduous (white), with as 
many stamens inserted at the base of the divisions. Filaments 
slender: anthers short. Ovary 2 - 3-celled, with 2 orthotropous 
ovules in each cell: style short and thick: stigma obscurely 2-3- 
lobed. Berry globular, 1-2-seeded. — Perennial herbs, with 
simple stems from creeping or thickish rootstocks, alternate nerved 
leaves, and white often fragrant flowers in a terminal simple or 
compound raceme. (Name a diminutive of Smilax, to which, 
however, these plants are quite unlike.) 
