MELANTHACEAE 251 



Ovary 3-celled, the carpels united to above the middle. Ovules several in each cavity. 

 Capsule fluted, long and narrow, each carpel with a slender erect tip. Seeds few, narrow. 



1. Tracyanthus angustifolius ( Michx. ) Small. Foliage glabrous. Stems 5-10 dm. 

 tall, simple, racemose at the top : leaf-blades narrowly linear, 1-7 dm. long, or shorter 

 above, flat : racemes oblong-cylindric, 5-10 cm. long : pedicels slender, 1-2 cm. long : 

 perianth white, sometimes turning purple : sepals and petals cuneate, or the oval or ovate 

 sepals somewhat the broader, all 4-5 mm. long, obtuse : capsule narrowly conic, somewhat 

 lustrous, 15-20 mm. long, the carpels with erect tips : seeds linear. [Amianthium angusti- 

 folium (Michx.) A. Gray. Zygadenus angustifolius (Michx.) S. Wats.] 



In low grounds, North Carolina to Florida. Spring. CROW-POISON. 



9. VERATRUM L. 



Coarse caulescent pubescent herbs, with stout poisonous rootstocks. Leaves mainly 

 cauline, often ample : blades plaited, sessile, or with short clasping petiole-like bases. 

 Flowers polygamous or monoecious, numerous. Perianth greenish, yellow or purple : 

 sepals and petals 6, glandless or nearly so, adnate to the base of the ovary, clawless. Sta- 

 mens 6, inserted at the bases of the perianth-members : filaments filiform : anther-sacs con- 

 fluent. Ovary 3-celled : styles 3, persistent. Ovules usually numerous. Capsule 3-lobed, 

 septicidally 3-valved. Seeds several in each cavity, flat, broadly winged. 



Upper stem-leaves sessile or merely slightly clasping. 



Pedicels more than twice as long as the subtending bracts. 1. V. parviflorum. 

 Pedicels shorter than the subtending bracts or barely twice as long. 



Bracts shorter than the pedicels. 2. V. intermedium. 



Bracts longer than the pedicels or about as long. 3. V. Woodii. 



Upper stem-leaves with sheathing bases. 4. V. viride. 



1. Veratrum parviflorum Michx. Foliage thinly pubescent. Stems 6-15 dm. tall, 

 slender, often reddish purple : leaves mostly near the base of the stem ; blades oblong, 

 elliptic or oval or rarely broadest above the middle, 1-3 dm. long, acute, narrowed into 

 petiole-like bases : stem-leaves reduced to linear or narrowly linear-lanceolate blades : 

 panicles^-7 dm. long, loosely flowered, the branches slender, usually spreading : pedicels 

 fully twice as long as the subtending bracts : perianth greenish or yellowish green, 10-12 

 mm. broad : sepals and petals elliptic or spatulate, acute, narrowed to the base : capsules 

 oblong-oval, 12-15 mm. long. \_Melanthium parviflorum (Michx.) S. Wats.] 



In open woods, on mountain slopes, Virginia to Georgia and Tennessee. Summer. HELLEBORE. 



2. Veratrum intermedium Chapm. Foliage thinly pubescent. Stems 9-15 dm. tall : 

 leaf-blades narrowly elliptic, 1-3 dm. long, acute, narrowed into sheathing petiole-like bases 

 shorter than the blades : stem-leaves reduced to linear or linear-lanceolate blades : panicle 

 ample, 5-8 dm. long, the branches ascending or curving upward : pedicels longer than the 

 subtending bracts : perianth brown, 15-17 mm. broad : sepals and petals elliptic-spatulate 

 or oblong-spatulate, pubescent without : ovary hairy : capsule 3-winged, fully 1 cm. long. 



In rich hammocks, Florida. Summer. 



3. Veratrum Woodii Robbins. Foliage pubescent, especially above. Stems 6-15 

 dm. tall : leaf-blades oblong-elliptic or oval, rarely slightly broadest above the middle, 1-3 

 dm. long, narrowed into sheathing petiole-like bases as long as the blades or shorter ; stem- 

 leaves reduced to linear blades : panicle ample, 3-9 dm. long, the branches ascending : pedicles 

 about as long as the bracts or shorter : perianth purple, 12-15 mm. broad : sepals and petals 

 spatulate or cuneate, obtuse, glabrous or nearly so : ovary pubescent when young : capsules 

 oblong or oval, 12-15 mm. long. 



On dry hillsides and in woods, Indiana to Missouri and Arkansas. Summer. FALSE HELLEBORE. 



4. Veratrum viride Ait. Foliage pubescent. Stems 6-25 dm. tall, stout, more or less 

 completely sheathed : leaf -blades broadly oval or on upper part of stem becoming elliptic or 

 oblong, 1-3 dm. long, narrowed into sheathing bases : panicle ample, 2-6 dm. long, closely 

 pubescent, many-flowered : pedicels shorter than the subtending bracts : perianth yellowish 

 green, 2-2.5 cm. broad : sepals and petals oblong or oblong-elliptic, ciliate and serrulate : 

 ovary glabrous : capsules 2-2.5 cm. long, oblong or oblong-ovate. 



In swamps and deep woods, Quebec to Alaska, Georgia, Tennessee, Minnesota and British Colum- 

 bia. Spring and summer. INDIAN POKE. AMERICAN WHITE HELLEBORE. 



10. STENANTHIUM Kunth. 



Glabrous caulescent herbs, with bulb-like rootstocks. Leaves mainly basal : blades 

 linear, elongated, somewhat keeled, few on the stem. Flowers polygamous, the upper ones 

 of the raceme fertile, numerous in terminal panicles. Perianth white or greenish : sepals 



