Vol. hi.] 



BROOM-RAPE FAMILY. 



197 



bracts similar to the scales of the stem. Calyx oblique, deeply split on the lower side, 3-4- 

 toothed on the upper. Corolla strongly 2-lipped, the tube slightly curved, the upper lip 

 concave, nearly erect, emarginate, the lower spreading, 3dobed. Stamens exserted; anther- 

 sacs bristly pubescent. Placentae about equidistant; stigma capitate, obscurely 2-lamellate. 

 Capsule ovoid-globose. [Greek, signifying a scaly cone.] 



Two known species, one of eastern North 

 America, tlie other Mexican. 



i. Conopholis Americana (L*. f.) 



Wallr. Squaw-root. (Fig. 3363.) 



Orobanche Americana I,, f. Suppl. 88. 1767. 

 Conopholis Americana Wallr. Orobanch. 78. 

 1825. 



Plants 3 / -io / high from a thickened base, 

 light brown, usually clustered, covered all 

 over with stiff imbricated scales. Upper scales 

 lanceolate or ovate, acute, 6 // -io // long, the 

 lowest much shorter; flowers about y 2 ' long, 

 exceedingly numerous in the dense spike 

 which is 6 // -io // thick; corolla pale yellow, 

 somewhat exceeding the calyx; anthers sagit- 

 tate; capsule ovoid-globose, 4 // -5 // high. 



In rich woods at bases of trees ( Canada? ) ; Maine 

 to Michigan, south to Florida. Called also Can- 

 cer-root and Earth Club. April-Aug. 



4. LEPTAMNIUM Raf. Am. Month. Mag. 2: 267. Feb. 1818. 

 [Epifagus Nutt. Gen. 2: 60. 1818.] 



An erect slender glabrous, purplish or yellowish, rather stiff branching herb, parasitic on 

 the roots of the beech, with few small scattered scales, and sessile dimorphous flowers, dis- 

 tantly spicate on the branches, the lower cleistogamous, abundantly fertile, the upper com- 

 plete but mostly sterile. Calyx short, nearly equally 5-toothed. Corolla of the upper flowers 

 cylindric, slightly flattened laterally, the tube much longer than the 4-lobed limb, the upper 

 lobe concave, larger than the 3 lower ones; stamens not exserted; anther-sacs mucronulate 

 at the base; style filiform, 2-lobed; ovary with an adnate gland on the upper side near the 

 base. Corolla of the lower flowers minute, not unfolding, borne like a hood on the summit 

 of the ovoid ovary; style very short; placentae contiguous in pairs; capsuleat length 2-valved 

 at the summit. [Greek, referring to the small calyx.] 



A monotypic genus of eastern North America. 



i. Leptamnium Virginianum (L-.) 

 Raf. Beech-drops. (Fig. 3364.) 



Orobanche Virginia na L. Sp. PI. 633. 1753. 

 Epifagus Americana Nutt. Gen. 2: 60. 18] 8. 

 Epiphegus Virginiana Bart. Comp. Fl. Phil. 



2: 50. 1818. 

 Leptamnium Virginianum Raf.; A. Gray, Syn. 



Fl. 2: Part 1, 314. 1878. As synonym. 



Plant 6'-2 high from a thick scaly base, 

 the roots brittle, fibrous. Stem paniculately 

 branched, the branches straight, ascending; 

 scales very few and small; corolla of the 

 upper flowers 4 // -5 // long and 1" thick, 

 striped with purple and white, the limb not 

 at all spreading; stamens about as long as 

 the corolla; style slightly exserted; lower 

 flowers \%" long, the corolla resembling the 

 calyptra of a moss; capsule 3" high, some- 

 what oblique and compressed, many-seeded. 



In beech woods, New Brunswick to Florida, 

 west to Ontario, Michigan, Missouri and Louisi- 

 ana. Called also Cancer-root. Aug.-Oct. 



