322 THE FLORA. 



Analysis of the Genera. 



% Perianth segments united below into a long tube a 



§ Perianth segments distinct, not forming a tube 2 



2 Anthers 1-celled, cordate (shield-form when open).., .3 



2 Anthers 2-celled. Flowers in simple racemes d 



3 Flowers in a panicle, that is, a compound raceme b 



3 Flowers in a simple raceme or spike c 



^ Leaves and flower arising from an underground corra. Golchicum. Col^'chicum. 



b Sepals clawed, each claw bearing a stamen. Melan'thium. 



b Sepals clawed, claw free from stamens. Zigadene. Zi'gadenus. 



b Sepals not clawed, base bearing a stamen. Puke. Vera''tkum. 1 



c Flowers white, in racemes. Stamens on the sepals. Fly-poison. Amian''thium. 

 c Flowers greenish, in a spike. Stamens free from sepals. Schjenocau'lon. 



d Fls. perfect. Filaments widened at base. Ovary 6-ovuled. Xerophtlltjm. 



d Flowers perfect. Filaments filiform. Ovary oo-ovuled. Helonias. 



d Flowers dioecious, white. Stem leafy. Blazing Star. Cham^lir'idm. 



VEEA'TEUM. Poke. False Hellebore. 



Flowers polygamous by abortion in the same plant. Sepals united at 

 base, colored, spreading, sessile, and without glands. Stamens 6, shorter 

 than the sepals, wanting in some of the flowers. Ovaries 3, united at base, 

 often abortive. Pod 3-partible, many-seeded. — Stems leafy more or less. 

 Flowers panicled. June^ July. 



% Stem stout and very leafy throughout. . , .1 

 § Stem slender, nearly naked 2 



2 Sepals rather blunt. Leaves oval and lanceolate. . . .2, 8 



2 Sepals acuminate. Leaves linear.... 4 

 1 V. viride. Green-fl. P. Lvs. large, oval, pointed. Coarse plant with green fls. 



2 V. Woodii. Wood)s V. Scape 3-6f. Leaves lanceolate. Fls. nearly black. W 



3 V. parviflo''rum. Small-jl. V. Stem 2-5f. Lvs. oval. Fls. dingy green. Mts. S 

 4 V. angustifolium. Gras8-lv. V. Very slender, 3f. Lvs. long. Fls. greenish- white. W 



Order CLI. JUNCACE^. Rushes. 



Herds generally grass-like, often leafless, with small, dry, green Jloicers ; 

 'perianth of 6 glume-like pieces, whorled in two circles (sepals and petals) 

 stamens 6, rarely 2, on the torus ; style 1 ; 

 oimry 3-colled; seeds few or many. 



