Vol. III.] 



BROOM-RAPE FAMILY. 



197 



bracts similar to the scales of the stem. Calyx oblique, deeply split on the lower side, 3-4- 

 toothed oa the upper. Corolla strongly 2-lipped, the tube slightly curved, the upper lip 

 concave, nearly erect, cmarginate, the lower spreading, 3-lobed. Stamens exserted; anther- 

 sacs bristly pubescent. Placentae about equidistant; stigma capitate, obscurely 2-lamcllate. 

 Capsule ovoid-globose. [Greek, signifying a scaly cone.] 



Two known species, one of eastern North 

 America, the other Mexican. 



CkoLhh 

 Vf3 



I. Conopholis Americana (L. f. ) 

 Wallr. Squaw-root. (Fig. 3363.) 



Orobanchc Americana L. f. Suppl. 88. 1767. 

 Conopholis Americana Wallr. Orobancli. 78. 

 1825. 



Plants 3'-io' high from a thickened base, 

 light brown, usually clustered, covered all 

 over with stiffimbricated scales. Upper scales 

 lanceolate or ovate, acute, 6"-io" long, the 

 lowest much shorter; flow^ers about Yz' long, 

 exceedingly numerous in the dense spike 

 which is 6"-io" thick; corolla pale yellow, 

 somewhat exceeding the calyx; anthers sagit- 

 tate; capsule ovoid-globose, df'-^" high. 



In rich woods at bases of trees (Canada?); Maine 

 to Michigan, south to Florida. Called also Can- 

 cer-root and Earth Club. April-Aug. 



4. LEPTAMNIUM Raf. Am. Month. Mag. 2: 267. Feb. 1818. 



[Epif.\gus Nutt. Gen. 2: 60. iSiS.] 



An erect slender glabrous, purplish or yellowish, rather stiff branching herb, parasitic on 

 the roots of the beech, with few small scattered scales, and sessile dimorphous flowers, dis- 

 tantly spicate on the branches, the lower cleistogamous, abundantly fertile, the upper com- 

 plete but mostly sterile. Calyx short, nearly equally 5-toothed. Corolla of the upper flowers 

 cylindric, slightly flattened laterally, the tube much longer than the 4-lobed limb, the upper 

 lobe concave, larger than the 3 lower ones; stamens not exserted; anther-sacs mucronulate 

 at the base; style filiform, 2-lobed; ovary with an adnate gland on the upper side near the 

 base. Corolla of the lower flowers minute, not unfolding, borne like a hood on the summit 

 of the ovoid ovary; style very short; placentae contiguous in pairs; capsule at length 2- valved 

 at the summit. [Greek, referring to the small calyx.] 



A monotypic genus of eastern North America. 



I. Leptamnium Virginianum (L,.) 

 Raf. Beech-drops. (Fig. 3364.) 



Orobanche P'ir^iniana 1,, Sp. PI. 633. 1753. 

 Epifagus Americana Nutt. Gen. 2: 60. 1818. 

 Epipliegns I'irginiana Bart. Comp. Fl. Phil. 



2: 50. 181S. 

 Leptamnium Virginianum Raf.; A. Gray, Syn. 



Fl. 2: Part I, 314. 1878. As synonym. 



Plant 6'-2° high from a thick scaly base, 

 the roots brittle, fibrous. Stem paniculately 43 ^ 



branched, the branches straight, ascending; r* 1} ^A-Ct^iSi 



scales very few and small; corolla of the 

 upper flowers 4"-5" long and i" thick, 

 striped with purple and white, the limb not 

 at all spreading; stamens about as long as 

 the corolla; style slightly exserted; lower 

 flowers 1^2" long, the corolla resembling the 

 calyptra of a moss; capsule 3" high, some- 

 what oblique and compressed, many-seeded. 



In beech woods. New Brunswick to Florida, 

 west to Ontario, Michigan, Missouri and Louisi- 

 ana. Called also Cancer-root. Aug.-Oct. 



ihi' til'- 



k.v. 



