MELA NTH A CEAE. 259 



Perianth-segments with 2 glands at the base of the blade. 



Blade of the perianth-segments oblong, entire; leaves linear. i. M. Virginicum. 



Blade of the perianth-segments nearly orbicular, undulate; leaves oblanceolate. 



2. Al. latifolium. 

 Perianth-segments oblanceolate, glandless; leaves oval. 3. M. parviflorum* 



1. Melanthium Virginicum L. BUNCH-FLOWER. (I. F. f. 981.) Stems 

 7-15 dm. high. Leaves linear, often 3 dm. long, 8-25 mm. wide, the lower sheath- 

 ing, the upper smaller, sessile; panicle 1.5-4.5 dm. long, its branches ascending; 

 pedicels much longer than the bracts; flowers 1.2-2 cm. broad, greenish yellow, turn- 

 ing brown; perianth-segments obtuse, the blade oblong, flat, entire, sometimes ob- 

 cordate, twice as long as the claw; capsule 1-1.5 cm. long, the persistent styles 

 erect; seeds 8-io in each cavity. In meadows, wet woods and marshes, R. I. to 

 N. Y., Minn., Fla. and Tex. June-Aug. 



2. Melanthium latifolium Desr. CRISPED BUNCH-FLOWER. (I. F. f. 982.) 

 Stem 6-12 dm. tall. Leaves oblanceolate, acute, 2.5 cm. wide, the lower clasping; 

 panicle usually 3 dm. long or more, its branches ascending or spreading; pedicels 

 6- 16 mm. long; flowers 1216 mm. broad; greenish white, turning darker; blade 

 of the perianth -segments orbicular or ovate, undulate and crisped, bearing 2 glands 

 at the base; capsule 12-16 mm. long, its cavities 4-8-seeded; flowers fragrant. 

 In dry woods and on hills, Conn, to Penn. and S. Car. July-Aug. 



Melanthium latifolium longipedicell&tum A. Brown. Lower leaves 1-2 cm. wide, 

 and upper pedicels 2.5 cm. long. W. Va. 



3. Melanthium parviflorum (Michx.) S. Wats. SMALL-FLOWERED MELAN- 

 THIUM. (I. F. f. 983.) Stem slender, 3-15 dm. tall. Lower leaves broadly oval 

 or oblanceolate, acute, 1-2 dm. long, 4-10 cm. wide, with narrow sheathing 

 bases, the upper narrowly linear-lanceolate; panicle 3-6 dm. long, open, its slender 

 branches divergent or ascending; pedicels filiform, much longer than the bracts, 

 somewhat longer than the perianth-segments; flowers 8-10 mm. broad, greenish ; 

 perianth -segments oblanceolate, glandless, short-clawed or sessile; capsule IO- 

 12 mm. long. In dry woods, mountains of Va. to S. Car. June-Aug. 



to. VERATRUM L. 



Tall perennial herbs, with short poisonous rootstocks, the leaves mostly broad, 

 clasping, strongly veined and plaited, the stem and inflorescence pubescent. Flow- 

 ers greenish, yellowish or purple, polygamous or monoecious, on short pedicels in , 

 large terminal panicles. Perianth-segments 6, glandless or nearly so, not clawed, 

 adnate to the base of the ovary. Stamens opposite the perianth-segments and free 

 from them, short, mostly curved. Anthers cordate, their sacs confluent. Ovary 

 ovoid; styles 3, persistent. Capsule 3-lobed, 3-celled, the cavities several-seeded. 

 Seeds flat, broadly winged. [Ancient name of the Hellebore.] About 10 species, 

 natives of north temperate zone. Besides the following another occurs in the 

 southern U. S. and two on the Pacific coast. 



Flowers yellowish green; perianth-segments pubescent, ciliate. i. V. virtde. 



Flowers purple; perianth-segments glabrous or nearly so. 2. V. IVoodii* 



1. Veratrum vlri'de Ait. AMERICAN WHITE HELLEBORE. INDIAN POKE. 

 (I. F. f. 984.) Rootstock erect, 5-8 cm. long, 2-5 cm. thick. Stem stout, 0.6- 

 2.8 m. tall, very leafy; leaves acute, the lower broadly oval or elliptic, 1.5-3 dm. 

 long, 0.7-1.5 dm. wide, short-petioled or sessile, sheathing, the upper successively 

 narrower; panicle 2-6 dm. long, densely many-flowered, its lower branches spread- 

 ing or drooping; pedicels mostly shorter than the bracts; flowers 1.5-2 5 cm. 

 broad; perianth -segments oblong or oblanceolate, twice as long as the stamens; 

 ovary glabrous; capsule 22.5 cm> ^ on S- ^ n swamps and wet woods, Quebec to 

 Alaska, Ga., Tenn., Minn, and Br. Col. May-July. 



2. Veratrum Woodii Robbins. WOOD'S FALSE HELLEBORE. (I. F. f. 985.) 

 Rootstock short, erect. Stem slender, 0.6-1.5 m - tall; leaves mostly basal, oblong 

 or oblanceolate, 510 cm. wide, narrowed into sheathing petioles; upper leaves 

 small and linear-lanceolate; panicle open, 3-6 dm. long, its branches ascending; 

 pedicels shorter than the perianth; flowers 12-16 rmn. broad, purple; perianth. 



rr^iits oblanceolate, obtuse, entire, little longer than the stamens; ovary pubes* 



