294 THE KINDS OF PLANTS 



petals broadest above the middle (obovate) and 2-2K in. long: leaves broad- 

 ovate, sessile or nearly so. Flowers become rose-pink with age. 



T. erectum, Linn. Flowers smaller, ill-scented, varying from white to 

 pink and purple, the peduncle erect or declined, the petals ovate or lanceolate 

 and spreading: leaves broad-ovate. Frequent north, and south to Tenn. 



T. cernuum, Linn. Flowers not large, white, the peduncle declined under 

 the broad leaves ; petals ovate-lanceolate, rolled back. Range of the last. 



8. ASPARAGUS. Asparagus. 



Mostly tall, often climbing plants with cladophylla and very small 

 scale-like true leaves: flowers white or greenish, small, bell-shaped, scat- 

 tered or in groups of 2 or 3 : fruit a 3-loculed and 1-6-seeded small berry. 



A. officinalis, Linn. Common asparagus. 

 Figs. 147, 148. Erect and branchy, the strong young 

 shoots thick and edible: berries red. Eur. 



A. plumdsus, Baker. Fig. 149. Twining, with 

 dark, frond-like foliage, small white flowers and 

 434. "N blackberries. S.Africa; greenhouses. 



Asparagus medeoloides. A me deoloides, Thunb. Smilax of florists (but 



not of botanists). Fig. 434. Twining: foliage broad and leaf-like: fls. soli- 

 tary and fragrant: berries dark green. S. Africa; much grown by florists. 



9. SMILACiNA. False Solomon's Seal. 



Low, erect plants with many small white flowers in racemes or pani- 

 cles: perianth 6-parted : fruit a 3-loculed berry : rootstock creeping. 



S. racemosa, Desf. False spikenard. About 2 ft., tall, somewhat 

 downy, with many oblong or oval leaves : flowers in a panicle : berries pale 

 red, speckled. Spring and early summer. Rich woods. 



S. stellata, Desf. Nearly or quite smooth: leaves narrower: flowers in 

 a simple raceme. Forms patches in low ground. 



10. CONVALLARIA. Lily-of-the-valley. 



Low, spring-flowering herbs from branching rootstocks: flowers gam- 

 opetalous, white and waxy, nodding in a 1-sided receme, the 6 short lobes 

 recurving: fruit a red berry. 



C. majalis, Linn. Leaves oblong, numerous from the rootstocks, form- 

 ing mats, and about 2 with each scape: flowers very fragrant. One of the 

 best known garden flowers. Europe. The only species. 



11. POLYGONATUM. Solomon's Seal. 



Mostly strong plants from long running rootstocks on which the scars 

 of preceding stalks are very evident (whence the common name) : stems 

 leafy, bearing nodding gamopetalous flowers in the axils : fruit a globular, 

 dark-colored berry. Rich woods; spring, 



P. giganteum, Dietr. Three to 5 ft. tall: leaves ovate, somewhat clasp- 

 ing: peduncles in each axil 2-8 flowered: filaments not roughened. 



P. hiflorum, Ell. One-3-ft. : leaves oblong, nearly sessile, somewhat 

 glaucous: peduncles usually 2-flowered : filaments roughened. 



