LILIACFJE. (LILT FAMILY.) 467 



8. SMILACtNA, Desf. FALSE SOLOMON'S SEAL. 



Perianth 4-6-parted, spreading, deciduous (white), with as many stamens 

 inserted at the base of the divisions. Filaments slender : anthers short. Ovary 

 2-3-celled, with 2 ovules in each cell: style short and thick: stigma obscurely 

 2 -3-lobed. Berry globular, 1 -2-seeded. Perennial herbs, with simple stems 

 from creeping or thickish rootstocks, alternate nerved leaves, and white, often 

 fragrant flowers in a terminal simple or compound raceme. (Name a diminu- 

 tive of Smilax, which, however, these plants are quite unlike.) 



$ 1. SMILACINA PROPER. Divisions of the perianth (oblong-lanceolate) and 

 stamens 6, the latter longer : ovary 3-celled : ovules collateral : racemes crowded in 

 a compound raceme or close panicle. 



1. S. raccmosa, Desf. (FALSE SPIKENARD.) Minutely downy ; leaves 

 numerous, oblong or oval-lanceolate, taper-pointed, ciliate, abruptly somewhat 

 petioled. Moist copses: common. June. Stem 2 high from a thickish 

 rootstock, zigzag. Berries pale red, speckled with purple, aromatic. (S. cili- 

 ata, Desf., is a dwarf state of this.) 



2. ASTERANTHEMUM, Kunth. Divisions of the perianth 6, oblong-lance- 

 olate, longer than the stamens : ovary 2 - 3-cetted : ovules one above the other : raceme 

 single, 5 - 12-Jlowered. 



2. S. Stellata, Desf. Nearly glabrous, or the 7 - 12 oblong-lanceolate leaves 

 minutely downy beneath when young, slightly clasping ; berries blackish. 

 Moist banks; common, especially northward. May, June. Plant l-2 

 high. (Eu.) 



3. S. trifolia, Desf. Glabrous, dwarf (3' - 6' high) ; leaves 3 (sometimes 

 2 or 4), oblong, tapering to a sheathing base; berries red. Cold bogs, New 

 England to Wisconsin, and northward. May. 



3. MAlANTHEMUM, Desf. Divisions of the reflexed-spreading perianth 

 (oval) and the stamens 4, of equal length : ovary 2-cetted: ovules collateral: raceme 

 single, many-flowered. 



4. S. bifolia, Ker. Glabrous, or somewhat pubescent, low (3' - 5' high) ; 

 leaves mostly 2 (sometimes 3), heart-shaped, petioled, or in our plant (var. 

 CANADENSIS) one or both often sessile or nearly so and clasping. Moist 

 woods ; very common, especially northward. May. (Eu.) 



4. CONVAI.L.ARIA, L. (in part). LILY OP THE VALLEY. 



Perianth bell-shaped (white), 6-lobed, deciduous ; the lobes recurved. Sta 

 mens 6, included, inserted on the base of the perianth. Ovary 3-celled, tapering 

 into a stout style : stigma triangular. Ovules 4 - 6 in each cell. Berry few- 

 seeded (red). A low perennial herb, glabrous, stemless, with slender running 

 rootstocks, sending up from a scaly-sheathing bud 2 oblong leaves, with their 

 long sheathing petioles enrolled one within the other so as to appear like a stalk. 

 and an angled scape bearing a one-sided raceme of pretty sweet-scented nodding 

 flowers. (Altered from Lilium convallium, the popular name.) 



