LII/IACEAE (^LILY FAMILY) 285 



adhering to their claws often to near the summit, persistent. Anthers heart- 

 shaped or kidney-shaped, confluently 1-celled, shield-shaped atu-r opening, 

 extrorse. Capsule ovoid-conical, 8-lobed, of 3 iutlated membranaceous several- 

 seeded carpels ; seeds fiat, broadly winged. — Stems tall and leafy, from a tliick 

 rootstock, roughish-downy above, as well as the open and ample i)yramidal pan- 

 icle (composed chiefly of simple racemes), the terminal part mostly fertile. 

 Leaves linear to oblanceolate or oval, not plaited. (Name coDiposed of /xAaj" 

 blacky and &vdos, floioer, from the darker color which the persistent perianth 

 assumes after blossoming.) 



* Perianth-divisions with a conspicuous -double gland at the summit of the claw. 



1. M. virglnicum L. (Bunch-flower.) Stem 8-1(5 dm. high, leafy, rather 

 slender; leaves linear (1-3 cm. wide); divisions of the perianth flat, ovate to 

 oblong or slightly hastate (5-8 mm. long); capsule 1.4 cm. long; seeds 10 in 

 each cell, 4-6 mm. long. — Wet meadows, " R. L," N. Y. to Minn., Tex., and 

 Ga. 



2. M. latifblium Desr. Leaves more oblanceolate, often 5 cm. broad ; divi- 

 sions of the perianth undulate (5 mm. long), the very narrow claw nearly 

 equaling the orbicular or ovate blade ; capsule 12-16 mm. long, on pedicels 

 8-18 mm. in length ; seeds 4-8 in each cell, 6S mm. long. (3/. racemosum 

 Michx.)— Ct. to S. C. 



Var. longipedicellatum A. Brown. Leaves somewhat narrower; pedicels 

 2-2.5 cm. long. — Wooded slopes, w. Va. (Judge Brown). 



* * Perianth-divisions oblanceolate, without glands. 



3. M. parviflbrum (Michx.) Wats. Stem rather slender (0.6-1.6 m. high), 

 sparingly leafy, naked above ; leaves oval to oblanceolate (5-10 cm. wide), on 

 long petioles ; perianth-divisions 4-6 mm. long, oblanceolate or spatulate, those 

 of the sterile flowers on claws ; stamens very short ; capsule 1.5 cm. long ; 

 seeds 4-6 in each cell, 5 mm. long. (Veratrum Michx.) — In the Alleghenies 

 Va. to S. C. 



10. VERATRUM [Tourn.] L. False Hellebore 



Perianth of 6 spreading and separate obovate-oblong (greenish or brownish) 

 divisions, more or less contracted at the base (but not clawed), nearly free from 

 the ovary, not gland-bearing. Filaments free from and shorter than the sepals, 

 recurving. Anthers, pistils, fruit, etc., nearly as in Melanthinm. — Somewhat 

 pubescent perennials, with simple stems from a thickened base producing coarse 

 fibrous roots (very poisonous), 3-ranked plaited and strongly veined leaves, 

 and racemed-panicled dull or dingy flowers; in summer. (Name from vere, 

 truly, and ater, black.) 



1. V. viride Ait. (American White Hellehore, Indian Poke.) Stem 

 stout, very leafy to the top (6-20 dm. high): leaves broadly oval, pointed. 

 sheath-clasping; panicle pyramidal, the dense spike-like racemes spre&diug; 

 perianth yellowish-green, moderately spreading, the segments ciliate-serrulate ; 

 ovary glabrous ; capsule many -seeded. — Swamps and low grounds. 



2. V. Wo6dii Bobbins. Stem sleiider, sparingly leafy (8-14 dm. high); 

 leaves oblanceolate, only the lowest sheathing; panicle very narrow; perianth 

 greenish-p2irple, with entire segments ; ovary tomentose, soon glabrate ; capsule 

 few-seeded. — Woods and hilly barrens, s. Ind. to Mo. 



11. UVULARIA L. Bell wort 



Perianth narrowly bell-shaped, lily-like, deciduous ; the 6 divisions spatulate- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, obtusely gibbous at base, with a deep honey-bearmg 

 groove within bordered on each side by a callus-like ridge. Stamens miu-li 

 shorter, barely adherent to their base. Capsule truncate, coriaceous, 3-lobed, 

 loculicidal at the summit. Seeds few in each cell, obovoid, with a thm white 

 aril.— Stems terete, from a short rootstock with fleshy roots, naked or scaly at 

 5, forking above, bearing oblong perfoliate flat and membranaceous leaves 



