66 



WEED FLORA OF IOWA 

 LILIACEAE, LILY FAMILY. 



This family contains a number of economic plants like onion, gar- 

 lic, leek, chives, such cultivated ornamental plants as the lily, lily 

 of the valley, and hyacinth and some poisonous plants as the colchi- 

 cum and bunch flower. 



Common Bunch Flower (Melanthium virginicum L.). 



Description. — Tall, leafy-stemmed plants 3-5 ft. high ; leaves lin- 

 ear, the lower sheathing, the upper similar and sessile ; flowers in an 

 ample panicle, fragrant; perianth of flat segments greenish yellow; 

 styles persistent, capsule 3-celled ; 8-10 seeds in each cavity. 



Distribution. — In low meadows and prairies from New England 

 to Iowa river basin, Minnesota, Texas and Florida. Common only 

 in eastern central Iowa to the Missouri line. 



Fig. 36. Bunch Flower (Melanthium virginicum) In meadows, eastern and 



southern Iowa. Poisonous. 



(Photo Gardner.) 



