LILIACEAE (LILY FAMILY) 285 



adhering to their claws often to near the summit, persistent. Anthers heart- 

 shaped or kidnej'-shaped, confiuently 1-celled, shiekl-shaped atter opening, 

 extrorse. Capsule ovoid-conical, o-lobed, of 3 inflated membranaceous several- 

 seeded carpels ; seeds flat, broadly winged. — Stems tall and leafy, from a thick 

 rootstock, roughish-downy above, as well as the open and ample pyramidal pan- 

 icle (composed chiedy of simple racemes), the terminal part mostly fertile. 

 Leaves linear to oblanceolate or oval, not plaited. (Name composed of yuAas, 

 black, and dpdos, floicer, from the darker color which the persistent perianth 

 assumes after blossoming.) 



* Perianth-divisions with a conspicuous double gland at the summit of the claw. 



1. M. virglnicum L. (Bunch-flower.) Stem 8-10 dm. high, leafy, rather 

 slender; leaves linear (1-3 cm. wide); divisions of the perianth flat, ovate to 

 oblong or slightly hastate (5-8 mm. long); capsule 1.4 cm. long; seeds 10 in 

 each cell, 4-6 mm. long. — Wet meadows, " R. I.."' N. Y. to Minn., Tex., and 

 Ga. 



2. M. latifolium Desr. Leaves more oblanceolate^ often 5 cm, broad ; divi- 

 sions of the perianth undulate (5 mm. long), the very narrow claw nearly 

 equaling the orbicular or ovate blade ; capsule 12-16 mm. long, on pedicels 

 8-18 mm. in length; seeds 4-8 in each ceil, 6-8 mm. long. (il/. racemosum 

 Michx.)— Ct. to S. C. 



Yar. longipedicellatum A. Brown. Leaves somewhat narrower ; pedicels 

 2-2.5 cm. long. — Wooded slopes, w. Ya. {Judjje Brovm). 



* * Perianth-divisions oblanceolate, without glands. 



3. M. parvifl6rum (Michx.) Wats. Stem rather slender (0.6-1.6 m. high), 

 sparingly leafy, naked above ; leaves oval to oblanceolate (5-10 cm. wide), on 

 long petioles ; perianth-divisions 4-6 mm. long, oblanceolate or spatulate, those 

 of the sterile flowers on claws; stamens very short; capsitle 1.5 cm. long; 

 seeds 4-6 in each cell, 5 mm. long. (^Veratrum Michx.) — In the Alleghenies, 

 Va. to S. C. 



10. VERATRUM [Tourn.] L. False Hellebore 



Perianth of 6 spreading and separate obovate-oblong (greenish or brownish) 

 divisions, more or less contracted at the base (but not clawed), nearly free from 

 the ovary, not gland-bearing. Filaments free from and shorter tiian the sepals, 

 recurving. Anthers, pistils, fruit, etc., nearly as in 3Ielanthium. — Somewhat 

 pubescent perennials, with simple stems from a thickened base producing coarse 

 fibrous roots (very poisonous), 3-ranked plaited and strongly veined leaves, 

 and racemed-panicled dull or dingy flowers ; in summer. (Name from vere, 

 truly, and ater, black.) 



1. V. viride Ait. (AxMericax "White Hellebore, Indian Poke.) Stem 

 stout, very leafy to the top (6-20 dm. high); leaves broadly oval, pointed, 

 sheath-clasping ; panicle jjyramidal, the dense spike-like racemes spreading; 

 perianth yelloioish-green, moderately spreading, the segments ciliate-serrulate ; 

 ovary glabrous ; capsule many -seeded. — Swamps and low grounds. 



2. V. ■Wo6dii Robbins. Stem slender, sparingly leafy (8-14 dm. high); 

 leaves oblanceolate, only the lowest sheathing ; panicle very narrow ; xterianth 

 greenish-purple, imth entire segments ; ovary tomentose, soon glabrate ; capsule 

 few-seeded. — Woods and hilly barrens, s, Ind. to Mo. 



11. UVULARIA L. Bellwort 



Perianth narrowly bell-shaped. Illy-like, deciduous ; the 6 divisions spatulate- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, obtusely gibbous at base, with a deep honey-bearing 

 groove within bordered on each side by a callus-like ridge. Stamens much 

 shorter, barely adherent to their base. Capsule truncate, coriaceous, 3-lobed, 

 loculicidal at the summit. Seeds few in each cell, obovoid, with a thin white 

 aril. — Stems terete, from a short rootstock with fleshy roots, naked or scaly at 

 base, forking above, bearing oblong perfoliate flat and membranace jus leaves 



