270 PRACTICAL BOTANY. 



888. Perianth of 6 segments or sepals. Stamens 6. .889 

 Perianth of fewer segments or sepals 891 



889. Perianth-segments, or sepals unequal. Fruit a 

 berry 890 



Sepals equal, spatulate-linear, spreading, wliite, 

 withering-persistent. Fertile flowers with rudimentary sta- 

 mens. Styles 3, linear, club-shaped. Pod 3-valved from the 

 apex. Stem Avand-like, terminated by a virgate, long, 

 spiked raceme of small, bractless flowers. Fertile plant 

 more leafy than the sterile. Leaves spatulate and lanceo- 

 late, petioled. (73G) Chamselirium luteum, Gray. 



890. The 3 inner segments of the perianth broader. 

 Sterile flowers with a small ovary without a stigma. Leaves 

 awl-shaped. Stem panicled. Berries red. 



Asparagus officinalis, L. 

 The 3 outer sepals broader. Sterile flowers with- 

 out an ovary. Leaves heart-shaped, halberd-form, or round- 

 ish-ovate. Herbs usually climbing, mostly by tendrils. 

 Flowers in axillary, long-peduncled umbels. (Peduncles 

 3-8 inches long.) Berries bluish-black, with a bloom. 



Smilax herbacea, L. 

 ( Carrion Flower,) 



891 . Leaves simple 893 



Leav^es compound 892 



893. Leaves 3 to 4 times ternately compound. Sepals 4. 

 Stamens aiumerous. Pistils several. 

 > vf^^^^/>7 ^*^i/^^.i./7 ^ Thalictnun dioicum, L. 

 Leaves digitate, of 5-7 linear-lanceolate, coarsely 

 toothed leaflets. Sterile flowers in axillary, compound, ra- 

 cemes or panicles, with 5 sepals and 5 drooping stamens. 

 Fertile flowers spiked-clustered, 1-bracted, with only 1 se- 

 pal, folded around the 2-styled ovary. 



Cannabis sativa, L. 



893. Leaves halberd-shaped. 



(836) Atriplex hast at a, L. 

 Leaves not halberd-shaped 894 



894, Leaves alternate 899 



Leaves opposite 895 



