54 MELANTHACEAE (BUXCH-FLOWER FAMILY) 



DD. Perianth segments lanceolate; pedicels bracted near the middle; fila- 

 ments woolly; anthers linear; capsule oblong, attenuate upward, loculicidal. 

 U. — (An anagram of Anlhcrkum, from Greek anlherikos, the supposed name of 

 the Asphodel.) Narthecium californicum (bog asphodel) 



CC. Stems from bulbs; anthers cordate or reniform, i-celled; leaves not equi- 

 tant. 

 E. Flowers nodding, yellowish purple; perianth segments acuminate, glandless. 

 W. C. — (Gk. stenos = narrow, anthos = a flower; referring to the narrow 

 perianth segments.) Stenanthium occidentale (stenanthujm) 



EE. Flowers erect, white or yellowish; perianth segments acute or blunter, 

 with 1-2 glands just above the narrowed base. ZYGADENTJS (p. 54) 



BB. Leaves many, 50 or more, rigid, rough-margined; inflorescence bractless; 

 anthers 2-celled; stem from a rhizome. W. C. E. — (Gk. xeros = dry, phyllon 

 = a leaf ; the leaves are not juicy.) Xerophyllum tenaz (bear grass) 



AA. Leaves wide, lanceolate to broadly elliptic; stem and inflorescence pubescent; 

 inflorescence bracted; anthers i-celled; stem from a rhizome. 



VERATRUM (p. 55) 



TOFIELDIA (False Asphodel) 



Slender, mostly tufted, with rootstock. Stems simple, leafy only at base. 

 Leaves 2-ranked, equitant, linear, grasslike. Flowers in a terminal 

 bracted spike or raceme, perfect, usually involucrate by 3 bractlets on the 

 pedicel. Perianth persistent; segments 3-veined, white or greenish. 

 Stamens equaling the perianth. Capsule septicidal, 3-lobed, beaked by 3 

 persistent styles. — In mountain marshes. (Honor of a Mr. Tofield, a 

 little-known English botanist.) 



A. Involucre bracts united 5 or more of the distance to the apex; perianth segments 



2-4 mm. long; capsule widest below the middle. W. C. E. T. intermedia 



AA. Involucre bracts united J or less of the distance to the apex; perianth segments 



about 6 mm. long; capsule widest above the middle. C. T. occidentalis 



ZYGADENUS (Zygadenus) 



Stem leafy, from a coated bulb. Leaves linear. Flowers white or 

 yellowish, perfect or polygamous, in a terminal glabrous panicle or raceme.' 

 Perianth segments similar, with 1-2 glands just above the narrowed base. 

 Stamens free. Styles 3, distinct. Capsule 3-lobe(i, the compartments not 

 diverging. — (Gk. zygos = a yoke, adenos = a gland ; because some species 

 have glands on each perianth segment.) The 2d and 3rd are known to be 

 poisonous to cattle. The others are so nearly like them that all are under 

 suspicion. 



A. Perianth segments 8-14 mm. long. 



B. Glands not obcordate; perianth segments 10-14 mm. long; leaves 12-24 mni, 



wide. U. Z. douglasU 



BB. Glands obcordate; perianth segments 8-10 ram. long: leaves 4-12 mm. wide. 



W. E. Z. elegans 



AA. Perianth segments 2-8 mm. long. 



