58 LITJACEAE 



many-flowered: sepals \\"-2\" long, very acute, siibeiinal, spreading;, 

 longer than the obtuse, oblong capsule. — Common in all kinds of situa. 

 tions and wonderfully variable. May-November. 



5. J. Dudley! Wiegand. Resembles stout forms of the last, but readily 

 distinguished by the brownish-yellow cartilaginous leaf auricles, which 

 are not prolonged.— Common in meadows and along streams. May- 

 August. 



6. J. Richardsonianus Schult. 6'-2(K high : panicle branches erect, 

 the flowers in distinct heads : sepals \" long, the three outer sharper and 

 longer than the three inner, but shorter than the ovoid- oblong, shoit- 

 tipped capsule. — Sand-bars along the Missouri River. Rare. Septem- 

 ber-October. 



7. J. nodosus L. 6'-24' high, from a tuber-bearing rootstock : pan- 

 icle bearing 1-30 heads, 0"-%" wide : sepals less than 1" long, subequal, 

 shorter than the lanceolate-subulate capsule. — Sand-bars along the Mis- 

 souri River. Not common. May-November. 



8. J. Torreyi Coville. Similar to the last but larger : heads 30-80- 

 flowered, \"-W wide : sepals more than 2" long, the three outer longer 

 than the three inner. — Often abundant in moist places throughout. 

 May-November. 



9. J. acuminatus Michx. Stems erect, l°-3° high : inflorescence of 

 5-inany 3-20-flowered heads : sepals less than 1" long, equal, about the 

 length of the ovoid-oblong abruptly pointed capsule. — Abundant in 

 ponds and ditches from Adams to Atherton and Levasy. May-July. 



Family 20. MELANTHACEAE R. Br. 

 Leafy-stemmed herbs from rootstocks, with grass-like leaves, and pan- 

 icled or racemose, jmlygamous, dioecious or perfect flowers. Perianth 

 composed of six segments. Stamens six at the base of the perianth. 

 Styles three. Seeds few-many. 



1. MELANTHIUM L. 



Flowers numerous in large terminal panicles, monoecious or polyg- 

 amous, greenish-white. Perianth divisions clawed at base. Styles 

 three, spreading. Capsule septicidal. Inflorescence pubescent. 



1. M. Virginicum L. BuNCH-FLOWEK. 2°-5° high : leaves 1° long, 

 \"-Vi" wide : perianth segments oblong, entire, 2-glandular at base. — 

 Moist meadows throughout the .southern and eastern parts, but loail. 



June-July. 



F.\mily21. LILIACEAE Adans. 



Herbs from bulbs, corms or rootstocks. Flowers regular, perfect. 

 Perianth G-parted. Stamens 0, free or adnato to the perianth segments. 

 Ovary 3-celled, its cells with few-many ovules. Fruit a loculicidal 

 capsule. 



