LILY FAMILY 39 



or panicles, bracted, nodding. Perianth bell-shaped ; segments 

 6, nearly alike, deciduous. Stamens (3 ; filaments thickened 

 above, often papillose ; anthers small. Ovary sessile, 3-celled 

 or becoming 6-celled, 3-angled, many-ovuled. Fruit an ob- 

 long, 3-angled, many-seeded, dehiscent capsule, or fleshy and 

 indehiscent.* 



1. Y. glauca Nutt. Bear Grass, Soap Weed. Stem very short. 

 Leaves basal, long, straight and slender, stiff, sharp-pointed, the 

 margins white and with a few thread-like filaments, |-^ in. wide. 

 Flowers racemed, greenish-white, globose or oblong, bell-shaped. 

 Style green ; capsule large, oblong, six-sided. Dry soil W. 



2. Y. filamentosa L. Spanish Dagger. Stem stout, 4-12 in. high. 

 Leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, slender-pointed, narrowed above 

 the spreading and clasping base, spreading or recurved, smooth, with 

 loose, thread-like filaments on the margins. Panicle elongated, with 

 bract-like leaves on the scape, widely branched, downy-hairy above, 

 3-6 ft. high. Perianth white, bell-shaped, 2 in. wide. Capsule oblong, 

 angles rounded, sides furrowed, at length o-valved and dehiscent. In 

 sandy soil, and often cultivated for ornament.* 



XVIII. ASPARAGUS L. 



Stem from fleshy, fibrous roots, erect, branched ; branches 

 slender, w^ith thread-like branchlets in the axils of scales which 

 take the place of leaves. Flowers small, solitary or racemed. 

 Perianth 6-parted ; segments distinct or slightly united. Sta- 

 mens 6, perigynous ; filaments thread-like. Ovary 3-celled, 6- 

 ovuled ; style short, slender ; stigmas 3, recurved. Fruit a 

 berry.* 



1. A. officinalis L. Asparagus. Stem succulent and simple, with 

 fleshy scales when young ; becoming taller, more woody, and widely 

 branched, when old. Flowers axillary, solitary, or 2 or o together on 

 slender, jointed, drooping pedicels, greenish ; segments linear. Berry 

 red, few-seeded. Introduced from Europe, common in cultivation, 

 and often escaped.* 



XIX. SMILACINA Desf. (VAGNERA) 



Perennial, simple-stemmed herbs, wuth rootstocks. Leaves 

 usually sessile, nerved, alternate. Flowers w^hite, in a terminal 

 raceme. Perianth spreading, 6-parted. Stamens 6, somewhat 

 perigynous; filaments slender; anthers short, facing inward. 



