348 ORDER 148. MELANTHACE.E. 



Perianth 6-parted, tube very long, radical, like the Crocus COLCHICDB. I 



g Perianth 6-sepalled, wheel-form, on n scape or stem, with leaves... (*) 



* Anthers 1-celled, extrorse, cordate, becoming peltate by opening. ..(a) 



* Anthers 2-celled, extrorse. Capsule loculicidal. Flowers racemous. . .() 



* Anthers 2-celled, introrse. Capsule septicidal. Flowers racemous... (d) 



a Inflorescence racemous, with white flowers. Sta. scarce longer than sep. ..AMIANTIUUX. 2 

 o Inflorescence spicate, with green flowers. Sta. twice longer than sepals... SCHJKNOCAULON. 3 

 a Inflorescence paniculate, or a raceme somewhat branched at base., ,(1>) 



b Sepals glandular at base inside, clawed. Stamens perigyuous MELANTIIICM. 4 



b Sepals glandular at base inside, clawed. Stamens hypogynous ZIGADENUS. 5 



b Sepals not gland-bearing. Stamens perigynous VKRATROM. 6 



e Flowers perfect. Filaments dilated at base. Ovary cells 2-ovuled ZEROPHYLLUJI. 7 



c Flowers perfect. Filaments filiform. Ovary cells GO-ovuled . HELONIAS. 8 



c Flowers dioecious, white. Stem leafy -. CHAM^UKIUM. 9 



d Stamens 6. Flowers greenish or yellowish, 9 10 TOFIEI-DIA. 10 



d Stamens 912. Flowers deep yellow, 69, mostly 6 PLKEA. 11 



/ 



1. COLCHICUM AUTUMNALE. A plant of curious habit, from Europe. 

 The 1 3 long-(5-S'-)tubed, lilac-colored, 6-parted flower arises directly from the new tuber 

 in the Autumn, followed in the succeeding Spring by a stem bearing the leaves and fruit. 



2. AMIANTHIUM, Gray. FLY-POISON. Fls. 2 . Sep. sessile, spread- 

 ing, glandless, shorter than the stamens. Anth. reniform. Caps. 3-horned, 

 3-partible into 1-4-seeded follicles, if St. bulbous at base, scape-like. Lvs. 

 grass-like. Fls. on slender pedicels, turning green with age. May July. 



1 A. muscsetoxtcum Gr. Bulb conspicuous ; Ivs. broad-linear, obtuse, many ; rac. 



dense ; sep. oblong ; seeds ovate, red and fleshy. Shades, N. J., W. and S. 1 2f. 



2 A. angustifolium Gr. Tall, slender, scarcely bulbous ; Ivs. linear, acute ; sepals 



oval, changing to brown ; rac. very dense ; seeds linear, dry. Damp woods, S. 2 3f. 



3. SCH.ENOCAULON, Gray. Fls. $ . Sep. green, linear-oblong, half 

 as long as the hypogynous stam. Ova. G-8-ovuled, carpels slightly cohering. 

 U Scape bulbous, rush-like. Lvs. sedge-like. Spike slender. Apr., May. 

 S. grjicile Gr. Sandy soils, Ga., Fla. Scape 2 3f, Ivs. half as long. Fruit unknown. 



4. MELANTHIUM, Grouov. Fls. 659- Sep. spreading, unguicu- 

 late, with 2 glands at base, the claws bearing the short stamens. Ova. often 

 abortive. Caps. 3-lobed, 3-pointed with the persistent styles. 1 f r St. thick- 

 ened at base. Racemes panicled. Flowers yellowish. July, Aug. 



IH. Virffinicum L. -Wet meadows, N. Y., W. and S. Stem 3 4f, leafy. Lvs. lanceo- 

 late to linear, 6" 2' wide, subclasping. Flowers S", in a large panicle. 



5. ZIGADENUS, MX. ZIGADENE. Segm. colored, spreading, at base 

 'united, contracted and 2-glanded. Sta. hypogynous, nearly as long as the 

 segm. Ovary adherent at base or free. Seeds Co, scarcely winged, it 

 Smooth and glaucous. Leaves linear. Flowers greenish, panicled. 



1 Z. glaberrimusMx. Rhizome creeping ; Ivs. channelled, recurved ; panicle coni- 

 cal ; fls. 1' broad ; sepals lance-ovate, with 2 round glands. Swamps, S. 2f. June. 



jj Z. glaucns N. Stem bulbous, nearly naked ; Ivs. flat, much shorter than the stem ; 

 sepals obtuse, 3", each with 1 obcordate gland. Sandy shores, N. Y. to Dakota. 1$ 



3 Z. leimaiitlioides Gr. Root fibrous; Ivs. flat; panicle slender; segm. obovate, 



the glandular spot obscure. Swamps, N. J., and S. 2 4f. Flowers white. 



6. VERATRUM, Toum. FALSE HELLEBORE. Fls. $ $ ? . Sep. spread- 

 ing, sessile and without glands. Sta. shorter than the perianth and inserted 



