58 LILIACEAE 



many-flowered : sepals \\ /f -^\ /f long, very acute, subequal, spreading, 

 longer than the obtuse, oblong capsule. Common in all kinds of situa. 

 tions and wonderfully variable. May-November. 



5. J. Dudley! Wiegand. Resembles stout forms of the last, but readily 

 distinguished by the brownish-yellow cartilaginous leaf- auricles, which 

 are not prolonged. Common in meadows and along streams. May- 

 August. 



6. J. Richardsonianus Schult. 6 / -20 / high : panicle branches erect, 

 the flowers in distinct heads : sepals l /x long, the three outer sharper and 

 longer than the three inner, but shorter than the ovoid- oblong, short- 

 tipped capsule. Sand-bars along the Missouri River. Rare. Septem- 

 ber-October. 



7. J. nodosus L. 6 / -24 / high, from a tuber-bearing rootstock : pan- 

 icle bearing 1-30 heads, 3 // -6 // wide : sepals less than 2 /x long, subequal, 

 shorter than the lanceolate-subulate capsule. Sand-bars along the Mis- 

 souri River. Not common. May-November. 



8. J. Torreyi Coville. Similar to the last but larger : heads 30-80- 

 flowered, 4 // -8 // wide : sepals more than 2 /x long, the three outer longer 

 than the three inner. Often abundant in moist places throughout. 

 May-November. 



9. J. acuminatus Michx. Stems erect, l-3 high : inflorescence of 

 5-many 3-20-flowered heads : sepals less than 2 /x long, equal, about the 

 length of the ovoid-oblong abruptly pointed capsule. Abundant in 

 ponds and ditches from Adams to Atherton and Levasy. May-July. 



FAMILY 20. MELANTHACEAE R. Br. 



Leafy-stemmed herbs from rootstocks, with grass-like leaves, and pan- 

 icled or racemose, polygamous, dioecious or perfect flowers. Perianth 

 composed of six segments. Stamens six at the base of the perianth. 

 Styles three. Seeds few-many. 



1. MELANTHIUM L. 



Flowers numerous in large terminal panicles, monoecious or polyg- 

 amous, greenish-white. Perianth divisions clawed at base. Styles 

 three, spreading. Capsule septicidal. Inflorescence pubescent. 



1. M. Virginicum L. BUNCH-FLOWER. 2-5 high : leaves 1 long, 

 4 // -12 // wide : perianth segments oblong, entire, 2-glandular at base. 

 Moist meadows throughout the southern and eastern parts, but local. 

 June-July. 



FAMILY 21. LILIACEAE Adaus. 



Herbs from bulbs, corms or rootstocks. Flowers regular, perfect. 

 Perianth 6-parted. Stamens 6, free or adnate to the perianth segments. 

 Ovary 3-celled, its cells with few-many ovules. Fruit a loculicidal 

 capsule. 



