MELANTHACEAE (BUXCH-FLOWER FAMILY) 117 



segments narrow and calyx-like; the inner broad and usually bearded. An- 

 thers basifixed. Stigma sessile. Capsule septicidal. 



Anthers obtuse, gland circular 1. C. Nuttallii. 



Anthers acute, gland transversely oblong . . . . . 2. C. Gunnisonii. 



1. Calochortus Nuttallii, T. & G. Pac. R. R. Rep. 2: 124. 1855. Stem slen- 

 der, bulbiferous at base, with a single narrow cauline leaf (sometimes 2 or 3), 

 umbellately 1-5-flowered: sepals often with a dark or hairy spot: petals 3-4 cm. 

 long, white tinged with greenish-yellow or lilac, with a purplish spot or band 

 above the yellow base, and hairy around the circular or oblong gland : anthers 

 obtuse. From New Mexico and Colorado to Dakota and California. 



2. Calochortus Gunnisonii Wats. Bot. King's Rep. 348. 1871. Like the 

 last but with acuminate anthers and a broad transverse gland: petals light 

 lilac, yellowish-green below the middle, banded and lined with purple. 

 Mountains from Wyoming to New Mexico. 



10. YUCCA L. 



Ours are acaulescent plants with rosulate rigid and pungent leaves and large 

 racemose flowers on thick erect scapes. Perianth open-campanulate, of nearly 

 distinct lanceolate or oval segments. Filaments nearly free, thickened above; 

 the anthers short, sagittate. Ovary oblong, mostly longer than the stout or 

 swollen style; the stigma unequally 6-lobed. Fruit capsular, 6-valved above, 

 nearly or quite 6-celled. Seeds numerous. 



Fruit an erect hard dehiscent capsule. 



Style green; leaves long, narrow and rigid . . . . . 1. Y. glauca. 



Style white; leaves short, lanceolate-spatulate . . . . 2. Y. Harrimaniae. 



Fruit pendent, fleshy, edible . . . . . . . . 3. Y. baccata. 



1. Yucca glauca Nutt. Fraser's Cat. No. 89. 1813. Leaves filamentose on 

 the margin, very stiff and pointed, usually 3-0 dm. long by 6-15 mm. wide, 

 smooth: raceme usually simple, nearly sessile, 3-10 dm. long: flowers greenish- 

 white or tinged witli brown; segments broadly ovate, 3-5 cm. long: capsule 

 erect, somewhat 0-sided: seeds thin, smooth, broadly margined. Y. angusti- 

 folia. From New Mexico to Montana and Dakota. 



2. Yucca Harrimaniae Trel. Kept. Mo. Hot. Card. 13: 59. 1902. Acaules- 

 cent and often caespitose: leaves linear to spatulate-lanceolate, 0-40 mm. 

 wide, thin but rigid, spreading, pungent, brown-bordered, with coarse mar- 

 ginal fibers: scape 2-5 dm. high, simple, flowering from near the base: flowers 

 greenish, with large often obtuse segments: style slender: capsule brown, 

 about 40 mm. long, constricted, flaring above. From Utah to southern Colo- 

 rado. 



3. Yucca baccata Torr. Mex. Bound. Surv. 221. 1859. Leaves coarsely 

 filamentose on the margin, very thick and rigid, 5-10 dm. long by 3-5 cm. 

 wide, channeled or concave, rough especially on the back, tipped by a very 

 stout brown spine: panicle pedunculate: perianth-segments narrow, 5-8 cm. 

 long: fruit oval or cylindric, dark purple, often long-beaked: seeds thick and 

 rugose. Southern Colorado, New Mexico, and west to Nevada. 



23. MELANTHACEAE R. Br. BUNCH-FLOWER FAMILY 



Herbs with leafy stems arising from rhizomes or bulbs. Leaves nerved. 

 Flowers regular, solitary or in racemes or panicles; the perianth-segments dis- 

 tinct, usually persistent. Stamens 0, with cordate or reniform versatile con- 

 fluently 1-celled anthers, or the anthers small and with 2 distinct cells. Ovary 

 3-celled, with 3 distinct or more or less united styles. Seeds usually tailed or 

 appendaged. 

 Anthers 2-celled; oblong or ovate. 



Raceme very long and many-flowered . . . . . .1. Xerophyllum. 



Raceme short, few-flowered ........ 2. Tofiefdia. 



