530 LiLiACE^. (lily family.) 



16. CONVALLARIA, L. (in part). Lilv of the Valley. * 



rerianth bell shaped (white), 6-Iobcd, deciduous; the lobes recui-vcd. Sta- 

 mens 6, included, inserted on the base of the perianth : anthers introrse. Ovary 

 3-celled, tapeririy into a stout style: stipma triangular. Ovules 4-6 in each 

 cell. Berry (ew-seeded (red). — A low perennial herb, glabrous, stemless, with 

 blender running rootstocks, sending up from a scaly-sheathing bud 2 obloqg 

 leaves, with their long sheathing petioles enrolled one within the other so as to 

 appear like a stalk, and an angled scape bearing a one-sided raceme of pretty 

 and sweet-scented nodding flowers. (Altered from Liliiim convalJium, the pop- 

 ular name.) 



1. C. majalis, L. — High Allcghanics of Virginia, and southward. May. 

 — Same as the European Lily of tul Valley of the gardens. (Eu.) 



17. SMILACINA, Desf. False Solomon's Seal. 



Perianth 4-6-parted, spreading, deciduous (white), with as many stamens 

 inserted at the base of the divisions. Filaments slender : anthers short, introrse. 

 Ovary 2 - 3-celled, with 2 ovules in each cell : style short and thick : stigma 

 obscurely 2-3-lobed. Berry globular, 1-2-sceded. — Perennial herbs, with 

 simple stems from creeping or thickish rootstocks, alternate nerved leaves, and 

 ■white, sometimes fragrant flowers in a terminal and simple or compound raceme. 

 (Name a diminutive oi Smilax, to which, however, these plants liear little re- 

 semblance.) 



§ 1. SMILACINA proper. Divisions of the perianth {oblonfj-ianccolate) and sta- 

 mens 6, the latter longer: ovary 3-celled: ovules collateral: racemes crowded in 

 a compound raceme or close panicle : roof stock stont , Jleshjj . 



1. S. racembsa, Desf. (False Spikenard.) Minutely downy (2° high) ; 

 leaves numerous, oblong or oval-lanceolate, taper pointed, ciliate, abruptly some- 

 what pctiolcd. — Moist copses: common. June. — Berries pale red, speckled 

 with purple, aromatic. (S. ciliata, Desf., is a dwarf state of this.) 

 §2. ASTERANTHEMUM, Kunth. Dimsions of the perianth 6, ohlonrj-lance- 



olate, lonrjer than the stamens: ovary 2~3-cellcd: ovules one above the othei- : 

 raceme siiirjle, .'3 - 20 flowered : rootstock rather slender. 



2. S. Stell^ta, Desf. Nearly glabrous, or the 7-12 olilonf/-!anreolate leaves 

 minutely downy beneath when young, slightly clasping ; beirics blackish. — Moist 

 banks: common nortliward. May, June. — Plant 1°- 2° high. (Eu.) 



3. S. trif61ia, Desf. Glabrous, dwarf (3' -6' high); leaves 3 (sometimes 

 2 or 4), oblong, tajtcring to a sheathing base; berries red. — Cold bogs, New Eng- 

 land to Pcnn., Wisconsin, and northward. May. 

 §3. MAIANTHEMUM, Desf. Divisions qftherefexed-spreadinrj perianth (oval) 



and the stamen)s 4, of equal length: ovnrij 2-celled : ovules collateral: raceme 

 single, manji- flowered : creeping rootstocks slender. 



4. S. bif61ia, Ker. Glabrous, or .somewhat pubescent, low (3'- .5' high); 

 leaves mostly 2 (sometimes 3), heart-shaped, pctiolcd, or in our plant (the var. 

 Canadensis) one or both often sessile or nearly so and clasping. — Moist woods : 

 very common, especially northward. May. (Eu.) 



