540 CXLVIII. H^EMODORACE^E. LOPHIOLA. 



mass of leaves, to the height of 15 25f, bearing a pyramidal panicle. Flowers 

 yellow. There is a variety with striped leaves. 



5. HYPOXIS. 



G-r. iirw, under, ovs, sharp; on account of the pointed base of the fruit. 



Spathe 2-leaved ; perianth persistent ; capsule elongated, narrowed 

 at the base ; seeds numerous, roundish, with a black, crustaceous in- 

 tegument. Small, bulbous, grass-like plants, with yellow flowers. Lvs. 

 radical, linear. 



H. ERECTA. Star-grass. 



Pilose ; scape about 4-flowered, shorter than the linear-lanceolate leaves. 

 In woods and meadows, Can. and U. S. Leaves all radical, 6 12' by 3 5", 

 very acute. The slender, hairy scapes, several from the same root, arise 6 8'j 

 divided at top into a sort of umbel with 3 5 peduncles having each a minute, 

 subulate spathe at the base. Perianth hairy and greenish without, yellow 

 within ; segments oval, rather obtuse. June. 



ORDER CXLVIII. HJEMODORACEJE. BLOODROOTS. 



Herbs with fibrous, perennial roots and perfect flowers. 



Lvs. permanent, ensiform, equitant, usually in 2 ranks. [cylindrical tube. 



Perianth more or less woolly, adherent, the sepals and petals often indistinguishable, and united into a 



Sta. arising from the perianth, either 3 and opposite the sepals, or 6. 



Ova. 1 or 3-celled, cells 1, 2, or many-ovuled. Sty. and stig. simple. 



Fr. Capsule covered with the withered perianth, valvular, seldom indehiscent. 



Sds. definite or indefinite. Etnbryo short, straight, in cartilaginous albumen. 



Genera 13, species 50, sparingly occurring in N. America, S. Africa, New Holland, &c. The root of 

 Lacnanthes tinctoria abounds in a red coloring matter. One of the most intense bitters known is Aletiis 

 farinosa. 



Conspectus oftlie Genera. 



(3 Lacnanthes. 1 



< ^ Perianth woolly, 6-parted. Lophiola. 2 

 Stamens ( 6. ( Perianth mealy, 6-toothed. Aletris. 3 



I. LACNANTHES. Elliot. 

 Gr. Aa^v/7, soft hair, av$os ; in allusion to the woolly corollas. 



Perianth woolly, tube adherent ; calyx lobes exterior, of 3 linear 

 sepals, as long as the 3 lance-oblong petals ; stam. 3, equaling the 

 sepals, and opposite to them ; stig. minutely 2-lobed ; caps. 3-celled, 

 truncated, many-seeded. Lvs. lanceolate-linear. Fls. corymbose. 



L. TINCTORIA. Ell. (Dilatris. Pursh.} Red-root. 



Swamps and borders of ponds, R. L, Olneyl N. J. to Flor. An interest- 

 ing plant, with rush-like leaves. Stem erect, strict, 1824' high, clothed with 

 white wool above. Leaves mostly radical, fleshy, 3 4" wide and nearly as 

 high as the stem. Cauline leaves remote and bract-like. Corymb terminal, 

 close, 15 30-flowered. Flowers densely clothed with white wool outside, gla- 

 brous and yellow within. Anthers bright yellow. Jl. The root is said to be 

 employed in dyeing. 



2. LOPHIOLA. Ker. 



Gr. AOI//OS, a crest ; alluding to the crested petals. 



Perianth half superior, 6-cleft, persistent, woolly ; petals narrower 

 than the sepals, somewhat interior ; sta. 6 ; filament naked ; anthers 

 erect ; style conical, 3-partible ; stigma simple ; capsule opening at 

 the summit, 3-celled, 3-valved, many-seeded. Lvs. ensiform. Fls. 

 corymbose. 



L. AMERICANA. Wood. (L. aurea. Ker. Conostyles. J5r.) Golden Crest- 



flower. Sandy swamps, pine barrens, N. J. Stem 1 2f high, erect, 



hoary-tomentose when young. Leaves glaucous, narrowly linear, two-edged, 



glabrous, the lower and radical long, cauline 2 or 3, shorter. Corymb finally 



much expanded, many-flowered. Corolla woolly and yellow within, segments 



