300 THE FLOEA. 



Analysis of the Genera. 



% Perianth segmentB united below into a long tube a 



§ Perianth segments distinct, not forming a tube. . . .2 



2 Anthers 1-oelled, cordate (shield-form when open) .... 8 



2 Anthers 2-oelled. Flowers in simple racemes. ...d 



3 Flowers in a panicle, that is, a compound raceme. . . .b 

 3 Flowers in a simple raceme or spike. . . .c 

 a Loaves and flower arising from an underground corm. Cholcldcum. Col'chiocm. 



b Sepals clawed, each claw bearing a stamen. Meian'thium. 



b Sepals clawed, claw free from stamens. Zigadene. Zi'oadenus. 



b Sepals not clawed, base bearing a stamen. Pohe. Vera'tbum. 1 



c Flowers white, in racemes. Stamens on the sepals. Fly-poison. Amian'thium. 

 c Flowers greenish, in a spike. Stamens free from sepals. Soh^nooau'lon. 



d Fls. perfect. Filaments widened at base. Ovary 6-ovuled. Xekophylltjm. 



d Flowers perfect. Filaments filiform. Ovary co-ovuled. Heionias. 



d Flowers dioecious, white. Stem leafy. Blazing Star. Cham^ue'iom. 



VERA'TEUM. Poke. False HeUebore. 



Mowers polygamous by abortion in the same plant. Sepals nnited at 

 base, colored, spreading, sessile, and without glands. Stamens 6, shorter 

 than the sepals, wanting in some of the flowers. Ovaries 3, united at base, 

 often abortive. Pod 3-paftible, many-seeded. — Stems leafy more or less. 

 Flowers panicled. June, July. 



% Stem stout and very leafy' throughout. . . .1 

 § Stem slender, nearly naked .... 2 



2 Sepals rather blunt. Leaves oval and lanceolate. . . .2, 8 



2 Sepals acuminate. Leaves linear. . . . 

 1 V. viiide. Oreen-fi. P. Lvs. large, oval, pointed. Coarse plant with green fls. 



2 V. Woodii. Wood's V. Scape 8-6f. Leaves lanceolate. Fls. nearly black. W. 



3 V. parviflo'nim. Small-fi. V. Stem 2-5f. Lvs. oval. Fls. dingy green. Mts. S. 

 4 V. angustifoUum. Grms-lv. Y. Very slender, 3f. Lvs. long. Fls. greenish-white. W. 



Order CLI. JUNCACE^. Rushes. 



Herbs generally grass-like, often leafless, with small, dry, green /om6m/ 

 perianth of 6 glume-like pieces, whorled in two circles (sepals and petals) ; 

 stamens 6, rarely 2, on the torus ; style 1 ; 

 otary 3-celled ; seeds few or many. 



