150 THE FLORA OF THE ALPS 



reduced to minute scales, with fascicles of needle-like 

 branches in their axils ; fruit a berry. 



A. officinalis, L., Asparagus ; stem 20-40 in., flower- 

 stalk jointed near the middle, berry about the size of a 

 pea; stony places near water; Switzerland, rare. A. 

 tenuifolius, L. ; stem 12-20 in., flower-stalk jointed close 

 to the flower, berry about the size of a cherry ; mountain 

 woods ; Ticino, Dauphiny, rare. 



6. RUSCUS, L. 



Flowers unisexual and dioecious ; stem shrubby ; leaves 

 reduced to minute scales, and bearing in their axils leaf- 

 like branches (cladodes), with the flowers on their upper 

 surface ; stamens 3, united into a short column ; fruit 

 usually a I -celled berry. 



R. aculeatus, L., Butcher's-Broom, Knee-Holly; stem 

 10-24 in., erect, cladodes very stiff, ending in a short 

 spine, berry bright red; stony thickets; Southern Switzer- 

 land, Jura, Savoy, Dauphiny, Pyrenees, rare. 



7. LLOYDIA, Salisb. 



Flowers erect, white or yellow, solitary ; stem usually 

 simple, leafy, springing from a small scaly bulb ; leaves 

 linear ; seed-vessel a 3-celled capsule. 



L. serotina, Rchb. (PL 113); stem 2-8 in., flowers 

 solitary, milk-white with yellowish base and three red 

 streaks, leaves linear ; rocky places, very high. 



8. LlLlUM, L. 



Flowers large, white, yellow, or red ; sepals and petals 

 distinct ; stem leafy, springing from a bulb covered with 



