406 



MELANTHACEAE. 



Zygadenus leimanthoides (A. Gray) S. Wats. 



(Fig. 980.) 



Pine-barren Zygadenus. 



Amianthium leimanthoides A. Gray, Ann. Lye. 



N. Y. 4: 125. 1837. 

 Zygadenus leimanthoides S. Wats. Proc. Am. 



Acad. 14: 280. 1879. 



Stem slender, i-4 high, from a narrowly 

 ovoid fibrous-coated bulb, its base sheathed 

 by short leaves which soon become fibrous. 

 Leaves 2 // -4 // wide, green on both sides, 

 often i long, blunt, or the upper acuminate 

 and much shorter; panicle 4 / -i2 / long, it& 

 branches densely many-flowered, spreading 

 or ascending; bractlets much shorter than 

 the slender pedicels; flowers mostly perfect, 

 white or greenish, about 4" broad; perianth- 

 segments oblong, obtuse sessile, not clawed, 

 adnate to the very base of the ovary, bearing 

 a basal yellowish spot; capsule ovoid, 4" 

 high, much longer than the perianth. 



In swamps or wet soil, especially in pine bar- 

 rens, southern New Jersey to Georgia. Ascend* 

 to 4000 ft. in North Carolina. July-Aug. 



9. MELANTHIUM L> Sp. PI. 339. 1753. 



Tall leafy herbs, perennial by thick rootstocks, the stem, at least its upper part, and the 

 inflorescence, pubescent. Leaves oval, oblanceolate or linear, sheathing or the upper sheath- 

 less. Flowers greenish, white or cream -colored, darker in withering, monoecious or poly- 

 gamous, slender pedicelled in a large terminal panicle. Perianth of 6 spreading separate 

 persistent clawed segments, free from the ovary. Stamens shorter than the segments and 

 adnate to them; anthers cordate or reniform, their sacs confluent. Ovary ovoid; styles 3, 

 subulate, spreading. Capsule 3-lobed, 3-celled, the cavities several -seeded, tipped by the 

 styles. Seeds very flat and broadly winged, several in each cavity. [Greek, signifying 

 black flower.] 



The genus comprises only the following species: 

 Perianth-segments with 2 glands at the base of the blade. 



Blade of the perianth-segments oblong, entire ; leaves linear. i. M. Virginicum. 



Blade of the perianth-segments nearly orbicular, undulate; leaves oblanceolate. 



2. M. latifolium. 

 Perianth segments oblanceolate, glandless; leaves oval. 3. J/. parviflorum. 





i. Melanthium Virginicum L/. 

 flower. (Fig. 981.) 



Bunch- 



Melanthium Virginicum L,. Sp. PI. 339. 1753. 



Stems rather stout, 2*4-$ high. Leaves 

 linear, acuminate, often i long, 4 // -i2 // wide, 

 the lower sheathing, the upper smaller, sessile, 

 the uppermost very small; panicle 6'-i8' long, 

 usually dense, its branches ascending; pedicels 

 much longer than the ovate-oblong bracts; 

 flowers 6 // -io // broad, greenish yellow, turning 

 brown ; perianth-segments obtuse, the blade ob- 

 long, flat, entire, sometimes obcordate, at least 

 twice as long as the claw, bearing 2 dark glands 

 at its base; capsule s"-f long, the persistent 

 styles erect, i"-i#" long; seeds 8-10 in each 

 cavity, 2"-3" long. 



In meadows, wet woods and marshes, Rhode 

 Island to New York and Minnesota, south to Flor- 

 ida and Texas. June-Aug. 



