406 MELANTHACEAE, 
5. Zygadenus leimanthoides (A. Gray) S. Wats. Pine-barren Zygadenus. 
(Fig. 980. ) 
Amianthium leimanthoides A. Gray, Ann. Lyc. 
N, Wiagii25. 1837: 
Zygadenus leimanthoides S. Wats. Proc. Am. 
Acad. 14: 280. 1879. 
Stem slender, 1°-4° high, from a narrowly 
ovoid fibrous-coated bulb, its base sheathed 
by short leaves which soon become fibrous. 
Leaves 2/’-4/’ wide, green on both sides, 
often 1° long, blunt, or the upper acuminate 
and much shorter; panicle 4/-12’ long, its 
branches densely many-flowered, spreading 
or ascending; bractlets much shorter than 
the slender pedicels; flowers mostly perfect, 
white or greenish, about 4’’ broad; perianth- 
segments oblong, obtuse sessile, not clawed, 
adnate to the very base of the ovary, bearing 
a basal yellowish spot; capsule ovoid, 4/’ 
high, much longer than the perianth. 
In swamps or wet soil, especially in pine bar- 
rens, southern New Jersey to Georgia. Ascends 
to 4ooo ft. in North Carolina. July—Aug. 
9. MELANTHIUM IL. Sp. Pl. 339. 1753. 
Tall leafy herbs, perennial by thick rootstocks, the stem, at least its upper part, and the 
inflorescence, pubescent. Leaves oval, oblanceolate or linear, sheathing or the upper sheath- 
less. Flowers greenish, white or cream-colored, darker in withering, monoecious or poly- 
gamous, slender pedicelled in a large terminal panicle. Perianth of 6 spreading separate 
persistent clawed segments, free from the ovary. Stamens shorter than the segments and 
adnate to them; anthers cordate or reniform, their sacs confluent. Ovary ovoid; styles 3, 
subulate, spreading. Capsule 3-lobed, 3-celled, the cavities several-seeded, tipped by the 
styles. Seeds very flat and broadly winged, several in each cavity. [Greek, signifying 
black flower. ] 
The genus comprises only the following species: 
Perianth-segments with 2 glands at the base of the blade. 
Blade of the perianth-segments oblong, entire; leaves linear. 1. M. Virginicum. 
Blade of the perianth-segments nearly orbicular, undulate; leaves oblanceolate. 
2. M. latifolium. 
Perianth segments oblanceolate, glandless; leaves oval. 3. M. parvifiorum. 
1. Melanthium Virginicum L. Bunch- 
flower. (Fig. 981.) 
Melanthium Virginicum UL, Sp. Pl. 339. 1753. 
Stems rather stout, 2%°-5° high. Leaves 
linear, acuminate, often 1° long, 4’/-12/’ wide, 
the lower sheathing, the upper smaller, sessile, 
the uppermost very small; panicle 6-18’ long, 
usually dense, its branches ascending; pedicels 
much longer than the oyate-oblong bracts; 
flowers 6’’-10’” broad, greenish yellow, turning 
brown; perianth-segments obtuse, the blade ob- 
long, flat, entire, sometimes obcordate, at least 
twice as long as the claw, bearing 2 dark glands 
at its base; capsule 5’’-7’ long, the persistent 
styles erect, 1//-114’’ long; seeds 8-10 in each 
cavity, 2//-3’’ long. 
In meadows, wet woods and marshes, Rhode 
Island to New York and Minnesota, south to Flor- 
ida and Texas. June-Aug. 
