NAT. ORDER 

 LiliacecB. 



ERYTHRONIUM AJNIERICANUM. DOG'S TOOTH VIOLET 



Class VI. Hexandria. Order I. Monogynia. 



Gen. Char. Calyx, none. Corolla, inferior, six-petalled ; the three 



inner petals with a callous prominence on each edge, near 



the base. 



Spe. Char. Leaves, lanceolate, punctate. Petals, oblong-lanceo- 

 late, obtuse at the point ; interior ones bidentate near the 

 base. Style, clavate. Stigma, entire. 



This is an indigenous, perennial, bulbous plant, sometimes 

 called after the European species, Dog's Tooth Violet. The bulb, 

 or cormus, which is brown externally, white and solid within, sends 

 up a single naked flower-stem, and two smooth, lanceolate, nearly 

 equal leaves, sheathing at their base, with an obtuse, callous point, 

 and of a brownish green color, diversified by numerous irregular 

 spots ; thejlower is solitary, nodding, yellow, with oblong-lanceo- 

 late petals, obtuse at the point, a club-shaj^ed, undivided style, 

 and a three-lobed stigma. The Erythronium grows in woods and 

 other shady places, throughout the Northern and INIiddle States. 

 It flowers in the latter part of April, or early in INIay. All parts 

 of it are active. 



Of this genus Mr. Miller makes two species ; but Linnaeus, 

 perhaps with more propriety, only one ; for breadth of leaves, or 

 color of flowers, can hardly be considered as sufficient to consti- 

 tute a specific difference. It is found in some parts of Europe, 

 cultivated in gardens, where it produces a variety of colors : — 



Vol. u— 108 



