LILY FAMILY. Liliaceae. 



ing brownish with age ; the flowers, like those of the 

 preceding genus, are polygamous, but small, with six 

 green sepals. Capsule also like that of Melanthium. 

 Name from vere, truly, and ater, dead black, in allu- 

 sion to the blackening (really turning brown) of the 

 plant upon withering. The plant is poisonous in all 

 parts for sheep and cattle. It grows 2-7 feet high, in 

 wet meadows and low grounds, everywhere. 

 stout Stem leafy, stout and erect, with grass- 



Stenanthium like leaves. Flower-spike sometimes 2 feet 

 Stenanthium long ; the flowers are also polygamous. 



robustum Flower-cup whitish green or white with 



White or green . r ,. , , 



July-August Slx narrow spreading lance-shaped sepals, 

 ^ inch long. Leaves grasslike. Fruit 

 capsule pointed long-ovate. The name is from 6tevoS, 

 narrow, and avQoi, flower, alluding to the slender sepals 

 and flower-cluster. 3-5 feet high. Penn. to S. C, west 

 to Ohio and Tenn. 



The lily group is distinguished for its handsome bell- 

 shaped flowers, of six distinct spreading sepals with a 

 honey-bearing groove at the base of each. Flowers per- 

 fect with six prominent stamens, and a long pistil the 

 tip of which is a three-lobed stigma. Fruit an oblong 

 capsule containing many flat seeds. The bulb scaly. 

 The name Latinized from the Greek Xeipiov. 



The most beautifully colored wild lily 

 Wood Lily or . .. . J .~~* 



Wild Orange. of a11 ' Wltn bright green leafy steins, 

 Red Lily flower-cup opening upward, and the six 



Lilium sepal divisions narrowing to a stemlike 



Philadelphicum s i en( ierness toward the base. The color 

 Ju| a y ge8Car * vai T m & from orange-scarlet to scarlet- 

 orange or paler, and spotted with purple- 

 brown on the inner part of the cup. The sepals do not 

 recurve. From one to three flowers are borne at the 

 branching summit of the plant-stem. A small form 

 common in Nantucket bears a single lighter-colored 

 flower. 1-3 feet high. Dry and sandy soil, common in 

 the borders of thin woods. Me. to N. C, west to Minn, 

 and Mo. 



48 



