530 LiLiACE.E. (lily family,) 



closely contiguous parallel cells lateral or slightly introrse. Stigmas, or styles, 

 stigmatic down the upper side, recurved-diverging from the globose ovary, 

 long and thread-form, deciduous. Berry globose (dark purple), 3-celled, few- 

 seeded. — A perennial herb, with a simple slender stem (1-3° high, clothed 

 with flocculent and deciduous wool), rising from a horizontal and tuberous 

 white rootstock (which has the taste of cucumber), bearing near the middle a 

 whorl of 5-9 obovate-lanceolate and pointed, sessile, lightly parallel-ribbed 

 and netted-veiny, thin leaves; also another of 3 (rareh^ 4 or 5) much smaller 

 ovate ones at the top, subtending a sessile umbel of small recurved flowers. 

 (Named after the sorceress Medea, for its supposed great medicinal virtues.) 



1. M. Virginiana, L. — Rich damp woods, N. Eng. to Minn., Ind., and 

 southward. June. 



23. TRILLIUM, L. Wake Robin. Birthroot. 



Sepals 3, lanceolate, spreading, herbaceous, persistent. Petals 3, larger, 

 withering in age. Stamens 6 ; anthers linear, on short filaments, adnate, usu- 

 ally introrse; the cells opening down the margins. Stigmas sessile, awl- 

 shaped or slender, spreading or recurved above, persistent, stigmatic down the 

 inner side. Ovary 3-6-angled. Berry ovate, usually 6-angled or -winged, 

 3-celled (purple or red). Seeds ovate, horizontal, several in each cell. — Low 

 perennial herbs, with a stout and simple stem rising from a short and prae- 

 morse tuber-like rootstock, naked, bearing at the summit a whorl of 3 ample, 

 commonly broadly ovate, more or less ribbed but netted-veined leaves, and a 

 terminal large floAver; iu spring. (Name from triplum, triple; all the parts 

 being in threes.) — Monstrosities are not rare with the calyx and sometimes 

 petals changed to leaves, or the parts of the flower increased in number. 

 * Ovary and fruit 6-angled and more or less winged. 

 •t- Floiver sessile ; the very broad connective produced beyond the anther-cells. 



1. T. sessile, L. Leaves sessile, ovate or rhomboidal, acute, often blotched 

 or spotted ; sepals spreading ; sessile petals erect-spreading, narrowly lanceo- 

 late or oblanceolate, dark and dull purple, varying to greenish ; fruit glo- 

 bose, 6" long. — Moist woods, Penn. to Pla., west to Minn, and Ark. 



2. T. re cur vat um. Beck. Leaves contracted at the base into a petiole, 

 ovate, oblong, or obovate; sepals reflexed; petals pointed, the base narrowed into 

 a claw, oblong-lanceolate to -ovate, dark purple ; fruit ovate, strongly winged 

 above, 9'' long. — Rich woods, Ohio and Ind. to Minn, and Ark. 



•*- H- Flower pedicelled ; connective narrow, not produced ; leaves snbsessile. 

 ++ Pedicel longer than the flower ; fllament shorter than the anther. 



3. T. erectum, L. Leaves very broadly rhombic (2^-6' wide), shortly 

 acuminate; pedicel (1-3' long) usually more or less inclined or declinate; 

 petals ovate to lanceolate (9- 18" long), brown-purple or often white or green- 

 ish or pinkish ; stamens equalling or exceeding the stout distinct spreading or 

 recurved stigmas; fruit ovate, V long, reddish. — Rich woods, N. Scotia to 

 N. C, west to Minn, and Mo. Flowers ill-scented. 



4. T. grandiflorum, Salisb. Leaves less broadly rhombic-ovate (1^-4' 

 wide) ; pedicel erect or ascending; petals oblanceolate, often broadly so (U-2^' 

 long), white turning rose-color or marked with green, stamens with stout 



