442 LILY FAMILY. 



bearing flat, lanceolate leaves a base, some shorter ones up the stem, and 

 a wand-like spike or raceme of small bractless flowers, the sterile ones, 

 from the stamens, appearing yellow. 



19. XEROFHYLLUM. (Greek: arid-leaved, the narrow leaves being 

 dry and rigid.) Flowers early summer. 



X. setifdlium, Michx. Pine barrens, N. J., S. ; a striking plant, with 

 the aspect of an Asphodel ; simple, stout stem rising 2-4 high from a 

 thick or bulb-like base, densely beset at base with very long, needle- 

 shaped, rigid, recurving leaves, above with shorter ones, which at length 

 are reduced to bristle-like bracts ; the crowded, white flowers showy. 



20. MELANTHIUM. (Greek: black flower, the perianth turning 

 darker, yet not black.) Flowers summer. 



* Sepals bearing a double gland on the claw. 



M. Virginicum, Linn. BUNCH FLOWER. Moist grounds, N. Eng., 

 S. and W. ; 3-5 high ; lowest leaves sometimes 1' wide, the upper few 

 and small ; flowers rather large ; the sepals flat, ovate to oblong or 

 slightly hastate ; seed 10 in each cell. 



M. latifdlium, Desr. Leaves twice broader, rather oblanceolate ; 

 sepals undulate ; the claw very narrow ; seeds 4-8 in each cell. Conn., S. 



* * Sepals glandless, oblanceolate. 



M. parvifldrum, Watson. Alleghauies, Va., S.; stem 2-5, naked 

 above ; leaves oval to oblanceolate ; seeds 4-6 in each cell ; flowers 

 greenish. 



21. VERATRUM, FALSE HELLEBORE. (Old name, from Latin 

 ver 'eater, truly black.) Mostly pubescent, stout herbs ; the roots yield 

 the acrid poisonous veratrin. Flowers summer. 



V. vlride, Ait. AMERICAN WHITE HELLEBORE, or INDIAN POKE. 



Low grounds, mostly N. ; stout stem 2-4 high, thickly beset with the 

 broadly oval or ovate strongly plaited, sheath-clasping leaves ; panicle of 

 spike-like racemes pyramidal ; flowers yellowish-green, turning greener 

 with age. 



22. STENANTHIUM. (Name Greek: narrow flower.) Flowers 

 summer. 



S. angustif61ium, Gray. Alleghanies, Va., S. ; 2-4 high, very 

 slender ; the leaves long and narrow Q' or less broad) ; flowers white, 

 only ' long, in a prolonged terminal and many shorter lateral racemes, 

 making an ample, light panicle ; pod strongly reflexed, with spreading 

 beaks. 



S. robiistum, Watson. Stem stout and leafy (3-5 c high) ; the leaves 

 I' or less broad; panicle sometimes 2 long; sepals white or green, ' 

 long ; pod erect, with recurved beaks. Penn., S. 



23. ZYGADENUS. (Name in Greek means yoked glands.) Flowers 

 summer. 



Z. glab^rrimus, Michx. Pine barren bogs, Va., S. ; l-3 high, from 

 a running rootstock ; leaves rather rigid, keeled, nerved, taper-pointed ; 

 panicle many- flowered ; divisions of perianth ' long, a pair of round 

 spots above the narrowed base. 



