TAMACEAE. 81 



2.5-3.5 cm. long, pale-yellow: crown campanulate, deep-yellow, mostly longer 

 than the perianth-lobes, the toothed edge more or less spreading: anthers much 

 shorter than the filaments: capsules obovoid, mostly 1.5-2 cm. long. Bare, 

 locally naturalized. Nat. of Eu. Spr. DAFFODIL. 



FAMILY 2. TAMACEAE. YAM FAMILY. 



Perennial vines with rootstocks. Leaves often opposite, or whorled 

 near the base of the stem: blades ribbed and netted-veined. Flowers 

 monoecious or dioecious, or rarely perfect, in axillary clusters. Calyx of 

 3 sepals. Corolla of 3 petals resembling the sepals. Androecium of 3-6 

 stamens, imperfect in pistillate flowers. Gynoecium of 3 united carpels, 

 imperfect in staminate flowers. Ovary inferior. Styles 3. Ovules 1 or 2 

 in each cavity of the ovary. Fruit a 3-winged, 3-valved capsule, or 

 baccate. 



1. DIOSCOREA [Plum.] L. Upper leaves alternate: blades mainly cor- 

 date. Flowers rather inconspicuous. Sepals and petals mainly green or whitish, 

 those of the pistillate flowers persistent. Early sum. WILD YAM-ROOT. 



Lower leaves typically alternate ; blades green or pale-pubescent beneath : pistillate 

 racemes many-fruited. 1- D. villosa. 



Lower leaves whorled in 4's to 7's ; blades glaucous beneath : pistillate 



racemes few-fruited. 2. D. glauca. 



1. D. villosa L. Eootstocks slender, elongate, rarely forked, with few more 

 slender lateral branches: lower petioles glabrous or sparingly pubescent at the 

 apex: leaf -blades broadly ovate or orbicular-ovate, mostly 6-13 cm. long, more 

 or less pubescent beneath or sometimes glabrous: pistillate racemes many- 

 flowered: fruits numerous, suborbicular, varying to orbicular-obovate or obreni- 

 form, 2 cm. long or less. Occasional, in moist thickets and woods. 



2. D. glauca Muhl. Eootstocks stout, over 1 cm. thick, often forked and with 

 many short stout lateral branches : lower petioles densely pubescent at the apex : 

 leaf -blades ovate to orbicular-ovate, or rarely ovate-lanceolate, sometimes undu- 

 late, glaucous and usually finely pubescent beneath: staminate sepals oval: 

 pistillate racemes few-flowered: fruits few, suborbicular to broadly obovate or 

 obrenif orm, 2-3.5 cm. long. Frequent, in thickets and rich woods. 



FAMILY 3. IXIACEAE. IRIS FAMILY. 



Perennial, mostly caulescent herbs with short or long rootstocks. 

 Leaves equitant, mostly elongate. Flowers perfect, mostly regular, arising 

 from spathe-like bracts. Calyx of 3 sepals. Corolla similar to the calyx 

 or of 3 very different members. Androecium of 3 stamens, the filaments 

 partially adnate to the perianth. Gynoecium of 3 united carpels. Ovary 

 inferior. Styles entire or divided, sometimes petal-like. Ovules few or 

 numerous. Fruit a loculicidal 3-valved capsule. 



Styles alternate with the stamens. 



Filaments distinct : seeds drupe-like. 1. GEMMINGIA. 



Filaments wholly or partially united: seeds dry. 2. SISYKINCHIUM. 



Styles opposite or arching over the stamens. 3. IRIS. 



1. GEMMINGIA Fabr. Caulescent herbs with horizontal rootstocks. 

 Leaf -blades folded. Flowers in corymbose cymes. Sepals and petals pink or 

 reddish, nearly equal, distinct or nearly so, persistent and coiled on the capsule. 



1. G. chinensis (L.) Kuntze. Stem 3-13 dm. tall: leaf -blades with the faces 

 united above the middle: sepals and petals oblong to elliptic, 2.5-3.5 cm. long: 

 Lancaster County Flora 6. 



