HEXAJsDRfA. MONOGYNIA. 4S 



J. DiCKOTOMtis. Ell. Leaves i5ub-terete, channelled inside; panicle dichotomous; flowers sesiife. 



Synon. J. bufonius. Mx^ 



Fl. Beginning of July, and after, Fr. mat. 



Hub. Moist, low grounds; along pathways, &c. frequent. 12 to 18 inches higl>. 



Obs. This approaches the foregoing, in habit; but is clearly distinct. 

 J. BUFONIUS. Ell. Stem dichotomous; leaves angled) subulate; flowers solitary> sessile. 

 Fl. Latter end of June. Fr. mat. 



Hab. Low grounds: around Wollerton's pond: frequent. 2 to 6 inches high. 

 J. sYLVATicus. Muhl. Leavcs with knot-ljke joints; panicle decompound; flowers triandious. 

 Synon. J. acuminatus. Mx. and EU? 



Fl. Beginning of June, and after. Fr. mat. 



Hab. Meadows, and moist, low grounds: frequent. 1 to 2 feet high. 



Obs. This species seems to be subiect to a sort of monstrosity in the fructification, which gives it the 

 appearance of being viviparous. Perhaps it is really so. 



J. MARGiNATUs. j\[uhl. Stem compressed; leaves flat; corymb longer than the bractes; triandious. 



Synon. J. aristulatus.' Mx. 



Fl. Latter end of July. Fr. mat. Latter end of September. 



Hab^ Moist, shaded grounds: Patton's woods: frequent. 1^ to 2 feet high. 



J. BULBOstrs. Muhl. Stem undivided; leaves linear, channelled; corymb shorter than the bractes. 



Fl. Latter end of June. Fr. mat. Last of August. 



Hab. Dry, sterile hills; Barrens, &c. frequent. 12 to 18 inches high- 



J. CAMPEsTRis. Ell. Leaves gras.s-Iike, hairy; spikelets pedunculate, intermediate one sessile, 



F«/go— Field Rush. 



Fl. Middle of April. Fr. mat. Middle of June. 



Nab- Open, dry woodlands, and fields: common- fi to 12, or 13 iuchea high. 



144. MELANTHIUM. Mitt. Gen. 343. 



[Gr. Mclas, black, and u4«i/jos, a flower; the flowers being dark colored.] 



Polygamous: Cal. 0. Cor. rotate; petals 6, unguiculate. Caps. 3 celled, trifid. Seeds flat, wir.get^, 



M. viRGiNicuM. Ell. Leaves linear-lanceolate; panicle pyramidal; petals oval, subbastate, flat. 

 Fl. JMiddle of July. Fr. mat. 



Hab. Borders of swamps; Bath woods: frequent. 3 to 4 feet high: flowers yellowish white, finally dark. 

 Vbs. The lower flowers are mostly males, with abortive germs; the upper ones hermaphrodite, 



145. VERATRUM. Nutt. Gen. 345. 



[•■Quasi Vei-e airum; quia habet radicem nigram, vel quia humorem atrum oxpiirgat." Bocrli.] 

 Polygamous: Cal. 0. Cor. deeply 6 parted, spreading; segments sessile. Caps. 3, united. 

 V. viRiDE. Ell. Leaves broaJ-oval, plicale; racemes paniculate; corolla-segments oval, acute. 

 S y von. Y . A\h\\m. Mx.. Fu/g-o— Hellebore. White Hellebore. Indian Poke 



17. Middle of May. Fr. mat. Beginning of July. 



Hab- Swamps, and lov/ grounds: frequent. 2 to 4 feet high: flowers yellowish g-rcen. 



Obs. This plant is sometimes used, in infusion, as a w.ixh foi- cutaneous affections; and is considered to be 

 otlifirwi.se medicinal— but 1 am unacquainted with its virtues. The fresh root has been recommended for 

 destroying cockroacliLS. 



146. IIELONL\S. Nutt. Gen. S4G. 



[Etymolojy obscure: Da Theis supposes from the Gr. iit/os, a rxwrsh; where some species grow.] 

 Cal. 0. Con. petals 6, sessile, flat. Caps- 3 horned, 3 celied; cells.few-seeded. 

 H. dioica. Ell. Rootpra^morse; leaves lanceolate, radical ones spathulate; raceme spiked, dioicoiis. 

 Synon. Veratrum luteum. JVilhl. Muhl- Nutt. ViJ-o-Ehzms Star. Devil's bit. 



Hab. Rich woodlands, and meadows: frequent. 1 to 2, (Females 6 or4) feet high: flowers white. 



Obs. I have occasionally found perfectly J/ermaplirodite flowers on the male racemes- Indeed, I aaK 

 pretty well satisiied from my observations, that thtre W- a constant eftbrt. or tendency m the flowers of a 

 .^an a, wliich arc not heimaphrcdite, to bccuxae so. The :ooi of ibis is considerably bitter; and is a pop 



