AMARYLLIDACE.E. (AMARYLLIS FAMILY.) 513 



1. AMARYLLIS, L. § ZEPHYRANTHES, Herb. Amaryllis. 



Perianth funnel-form, from a tubular base ; the 6 divisions petal-like and 

 similar, spreading above ; the G stamens inserted in its naked throat : anthers 

 versatile. Pod membranaceous, 3-lobed. — Leaves and scape from a coated 

 bulb. Flowers 1 or 2, from a 1 -2-lcaved spathe. (A poetical name.) 



1. A. Atamasco, L. (Atamasco Lily.) Spathe 2-clcft at the apex; 

 perianth white and pink ; stamens and style declined. — Penn. (Muhl.) Virginia, 

 and southward. June. — Flower 3' long, on a scape 6' high. 



2. PANCRATIUM, L. Pancratium. 



Perianth with a long and slender tube, and an equal 6-parted limb ; the lobes 

 long and narrow, recurved ; the throat bearing a tubular or cup-shaped corolline 

 delicate crown, which connects the bases of the 6 exserted stamens. Anthers 

 linear, versatile. Pod thin, 2 - 3-lobed, -with a few fleshy seeds, often like bulb- 

 lets. — Scapes and leaves from a coated bulb. Flowers large and showy in an 

 umbel-like head or cluster, leafy -bracted. (Name composed of ndu, all, and 

 Kparvs, powerful, from fancied medicinal properties.) 



1. P. rotatum, Ker. Leaves ascending, strap-shaped (1° - 2° long); 

 scape few-flowered; the handsome (white and fragrant) flower with a spreading 

 large 12-toothed crown, the alternate teeth bearing the filaments. (Hymeno- 

 callis rotata, Herbert.) — Marshy banks of streams, Kentucky, Virginia, and 

 southward. May. — Flowers opening at night or in cloudy weather. 



3. AGAVE, L. American Aloe. 



Perianth tubular-funnel-form, persistent, 6-parted ; the divisions nearly equal, 

 narrow. Stamens 6 : anthers linear, versatile. Pod coriaceous, many-seeded. 

 Seeds flattened. — Leaves thick and fleshy, often with cartilaginous or spiny 

 teeth, clustered at the base of the many-flowered scape, from a thick fibrous- 

 rooted crown. (Named altered from dyavos, wonderful, not inappropriate as 

 applied to A. Americana, the Centcry-plant.) 



1. A. Virginica, L. (False Aloe.) Herbaceous; leaves entire ; scape 

 simple (3° -6° high) ; the flowers scattered in a loose wand-like spike, greenish- 

 yellow, fragrant. — Dry or rocky banks, Penn.? Virginia to Illinois (Mr. Lum- 

 mis), and southward. Sept. 



4. HYPOXYS, L. Star-grass. 



Perianth persistent, 6-parted, spreading ; the 3 outer divisions a little herba- 

 ceous outside. Stamens 6 : anthers sagittate, erect. Pod crowned with the 

 withered or closed perianth, not opening by valves. Seeds globular, with a 

 crastacecras coat, ascending, imperfectly anatropous, the rhaphe not adherent 

 quite down to the micropyle, the persistent seed-stalk thus forming a sort of 

 lateral beak. Radicle inferior ! — Stemless small herbs, with grassy and hairy 

 linear leaves and slender few-flowered scapes, from a solid bulb. (Name com- 

 posed of vtto, beneath, and o|vj, sharp, it is thought because the pod is acute 

 at the base.) 



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