Order 149.— MKLANTHACEJ3. 7lf 



Leaves almost acuminate, rounded at base. Anthers f ' long. May. — Readily 

 distinguished by the smooth petals. 



& U. sessilifolia L. Wild Oats. Lvs. sessile, lance-oval, glaucous beneath ; caps, 

 tliped, ofa/-triangular. — If Can. and U. S. A common species, found in woods 

 and in grass lands. Stem smooth, slender, 6 — 10' high, dividing at the top into 2 

 branches, one bearing leaves only, the other, leaves and a flower. Leaves smooth 

 and delicate, dark green above, paler beneath, 1 — H' long. The flower is cylin- 

 drie, near an inch long, yellowish-white, of 6, long, linear petals. May. 



4 U. puberula Mx. Lvs. amplexicaul and rounded at base, oval, cf the same 

 shining green, both sides, pvheruknt along the margins, as well as the stem ; peri- 

 anth segm. acute, smooth both sides ; capsule sessile (no stip>e), ovoid. — Mts. Va. 

 to Car. St. 8 to 12' high. Fls. yellowish-white, larger than in U. sessilifolia. 



Order CXLIX. MELANTIIACEyE. Melanths. 



Herbs perennial, sometimes bulbous, often poisonous, with parallel- veined leaves, 

 perianth double, regular, persistent, of 6 consimilar, green or colored segments, 

 stamens 6, with extrorso anthers, 3 distinct styles and a free, 3-celled ovar}', capsule 

 3-celled, 3-partiblo or septicidal, and seeds few or many with a thin seed coat 

 Figs. 61, C2, 4G-JL 



Genera CO, species 130, rather generally diffused in northern countries. 



Properties: — The order is generally pervaded by drastic, narcotic and poisonous qualities, most 

 powerful in Veratruiu and Colchicum. The conns and seeds of the latter are the most impor- 

 tant medicinal products of the order. Their virtue is due to an alkaline principle called vera- 

 iria, which is i'ound in this genus, as well as in most of the others. 



GENERA. 



§ Anthers 1-celled, extrorse, cordate, becoming peltate by opening. (') 



* Inflorescence paniculate, or a raceme somewhat branched at base, (a) 



a Sepals glandular at base inside, clawed. Stamens perigynous Mei.anthium. 1 



a Sepals glandular at base inside, clawed. Stamens bypogynous Zigaderits. 3 



a Sepals not gland bearing. Stamens perigynous Vebatrum. 8 



* Inflorescence raccmous, with white flowers. Stamens perigynous A.miantiiium. 4 



* Inflorescence spicate, with green flowers. Stamens hypogynous SciijENOCacloh. 5 



§ Anthers 2-celled, extrorse. Capsule, loculicidal. Flowers raccmous. (b) 



b Flowers perfect. Filaments dilated at base. Ovary cells 2-ovuled XERorrtYLLUM. 8 



b Flowers perfect Filaments filiform. Ovary cells co-ovuled IIf.lonias. t 



b Flowers dioecious, white. Stem leafy Ciia.m.elif.ium. 3 



§ Anthers 2-celled, introrse. Capsule septicidal. Flowers raccmous. (c) 



C Stamens C. Flowers greenish or yellowish, 9 to 40 Tofifmua. 9 



C Stamens 9 to 12. Flowers deep yellow, C to 9, mostly • Pleea. 16 



L MELANTHIUM, Grunov. (Gr. fizlac, black, avOoc;, flower; a 

 false name if applied to the yellowish flowers.) Flowers monoeciously 

 polygamous ; perianth rotate, 6-parted, segments oblong, acutish, cor- 

 date or auricled, and with 1 or 2 glandular, brownish, spots at base ; 

 the claws bearing the stamens ; ovary often abortive , capsule exserted, 

 aubovoid, trifid at the summit and tipped with 3 persistent styles ; seeds 

 broadly winged. — St. erect, thickened at base, bearing an open pyrami- 

 dal panicle of simple racemes. Lvs. lanceolate, varying to linear. 

 M. Virginicum L. Wet meadows and margins of swamps, Wis. to N. T. and 

 Fla. St. 3 to 4f high, leafy. Lvs. about a foot long, C'' to 2' wide, sessile, on a 

 contracted, and subclasping base. Fls. about 8" broad, on short pedicels, arranged 

 in simple, alternate racemes, and together constituting a pyramidal panicle 10 to 

 15' in length. Lower lis. generally sterile. Jl., Aug. 



p. hybridcm. Lower lvs. lanceolato and lance-oval. — A larger growth. (M 

 hybridum R, L S.) 



2. ZIGADE'NUS, Mx. Zigadene. (Gr. ^svyog, a pair, dd?]v, a gland.) 

 Perianth deeply 6-parted, spreading, colored, each segment with 2 glands 



