BUNCH-FLOWER FAMILY. 407 
2. Melanthium latifolium Desr. Crisped Bunch-flower. (Fig. 982.) 
Melanthium hybridum Walt. Fl. Car. 125. 1788? 
Melanthium latifolium Desr. in Lam. Encycl. 4: 
25. 1797. 
Stem stout or slender, 2°-4° tall. Leaves ob- 
lanceolate, acute, 6’’-2’ wide, the lower clasp- 
ing, the upper sessile and much smaller; pan- 
icle usually 1° long or more, its branches 
ascending or spreading; flowers 6’/-S’’ broad, 
greenish white, turning darker; blade of the 
perianth-segments orbicular or ovate, undulate 
and crisped, longer than the claw or about 
equalling it, bearing 2 glands at the base; cap- 
sule 6’’-8’” long, its cavities 4-8 seeded; seeds 
rather larger than those of the preceding 
species; flowers fragrant. 
In dry woods and on hills, Connecticut to Penn- 
sylvaniaand South Carolina. Ascends to 2000 ft. in 
North Carolina. Pedicels 3'’-8’’ long. July-Aug. 
Melanthium latifdlium longipedicellatum A. Brown, 
Bull. Torr. Club, 23: 152. 1896. 
Lower1 leaves 6''-10'’ wide, and upper pedicels 
12’ long. West Virginia. 
3. Melanthium parviflorum (Michx. ) 
S. Wats. Small-flowered Melan- 
thium. (Fig. 983.) 
Veratrum parviflorum Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 2: 
250. 1803. 
Melanthium parviflorum §, Wats. Proc, Am. Acad. 
14: 276. 1879. 
Stem slender, 2°-5° tall. Lower leaves broadly 
oval or oblanceolate, acute, 4/-8’ long, 11%4/—4’ 
wide, with narrow sheathing bases, the upper 
narrowly linear-lanceolate, acuminate; panicle 
1°-2° long, loose and open, its very slender 
branches divergent or ascending; pedicels fili- 
form, much longer than the bracts, somewhat 
longer than the perianth-segments; flowers 4//— 
6’’ broad, greenish; perianth-segments oblance- 
olate, glandless, short-clawed or sessile; capsule 
5/’-6”’ long, the cavities 4-6-seeded; seeds 3//—4/’ 
long. 
In dry woods, mountains of Virginia to South 
Carolina. June-Aug. 
10. VERATRUM IL. Sp. Pl- 1044. 1753. 
Tall perennial herbs, with thick short poisonous rootstocks, the leaves mostly broad, 
clasping, strongly veined and plaited, the stem and inflorescence pubescent. Flowers green- 
ish or yellowish or purple, rather large, polygamous or monoecious, on short stout pedicels 
in large terminal panicles. Perianth-segments 6, glandless or nearly so, not clawed, adnate 
to the base of the ovary. Stamens opposite the perianth-segments and free from them, 
short, mostly curved. Anthers cordate, their sacs confluent. Ovary ovoid; styles 3, persist- 
ent. Capsule 3-lobed, 3-celled, the cavities several-seeded. Seeds very flat, broadly winged. 
[Ancient name of the Hellebore. ] 
About 10 species, natives of north temperate zone. Besides the following another occurs in 
the southern United States and 2 on the Pacific coast. 
Flowers yellowish green; perianth-segments pubescent, ciliate. 1. V, viride. 
Flowers purple; perianth-segments glabrous or nearly so. 2. V. Woodiiz 
