AMARYLLIDACE^E. (AMARYLLIS FAMILY.) 513 



1. AMARYLLIS, L. ZEPHYRANTHES, Herb. AMARYLLIS. 



Perianth funnel-form, from a tubular base ; the 6 divisions petal-like and 

 similar, spreading above ; the 6 stamens inserted in its naked throat : anthers 

 versatile. Pod membranaceous, 3-lobed. Leaves and scape from a coated 

 bulb. Flowers 1 or 2, from a 1 -2-leaved spathe. (A poetical name.) 



1. A. Atam&SCO, L. (ATAMASCO LILT.) Spathe 2-cleft at the apex; 

 perianth white and pink ; stamens and style declined. Penn. (MuhL) Virginia, 

 and southward. June. Flower 3' long, on a scape 6' high. 



2. PANCRATIUM, L. PANCRATIUM. 



Perianth with a long and slender tube, and an equal 6-parted limb ; the lobes 

 long and narrow, recurved ; the throat bearing a tubular or cup-shaped corolline 

 delicate crown, which connects the bases of the 6 exserted stamens. Anthers 

 linear, versatile. Pod thin, 2 - 3-lobed, with a few fleshy seeds, often like bulb- 

 lets. Scapes and leaves from a coated bulb. Flowers large and showy in an 

 umbel-like head or cluster, leafy-bracted. (Name composed of irdv, all, and 

 Kparvs, powerful, from fancied medicinal properties.) 



1. P. rottum, Ker. Leaves ascending, strap-shaped (1 - 2 long) ; 

 scape few-flowered ; the handsome (white and fragrant) flower with a spreading 

 large 12-toothed crown, the alternate teeth bearing the filaments. (Hymeno- 

 callis rotata, Herbert.) Marshy banks of streams, Kentucky, Virginia, and 

 southward. May. Flowers opening at night or in cloudy weather. 



3. AGAVE, L. AMERICAN ALOE. 



Perianth tubular-funnel-form, persistent, 6-parted ; the divisions nearly equal, 

 narrow. Stamens 6 : anthers linear, versatile. Pod coriaceous, many-seeded. 

 Seeds flattened. Leaves thick and fleshy, often with cartilaginous or spiny 

 teeth, clustered at the base of the many-flowered scape, from a thick fibrous- 

 rooted crown. (Named altered from ayauoy, wonderful, not inappropriate as 

 applied to A.AMERICANA, the CENTURY-PLANT.) 



1. A. Virginica, L. (FALSE ALOE.) Herbaceous ; leaves entire or den- 

 ticulate ; scape 3 - 6 high ; flowers scattered in a loose wand-like spike, greenish- 

 yellow, fragrant. Dry or rocky banks, Penn. ? Virginia to Illinois (Mr. Lum- 

 mis), and southward. Sept. 



4. HYPOXYS, L. STAR-GRASS. 



Perianth persistent, 6-parted, spreading ; the 3 outer divisions a little herba- 

 ceous outside. Stamens 6 : anthers sagittate, erect. Pod crowned with the 

 withered or closed perianth, not opening by valves. Seeds globular, with a 

 crustaceous coat, ascending, imperfectly anatropous, the rhaphe not adherent 

 quite down to the micropyle, the persistent seed-stalk thus forming a sort of 

 lateral beak. Kadicle inferior ! Stemless small herbs, with grassy and hairy 

 linear leaves and slender few-flowered scapes, from a solid bulb. (Name com- 

 posed of VTTO, beneath, and ovs, sharp, it is thought because the pod is acute 

 at the base.) 



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