UEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA 221 



175. SMILACINA. Detf. Mutt. Gen. 330. 

 [A diminutive of S.niluv ; the name of another genus of plants.] 



Perianth 4 or G-parted, spreading. Stamens 4 or 6, divergent, attach- 

 ed to the hasc of the segments. Ovary superior. Berry globose, 2 

 or 3-celled. 



Herbaceous : stems simple ; leaves alternate, simple, entire, with parallel nerves ; 

 flowers terminal, racemose. Nat. Ord. 2-tf). Lindl. Smilace.e. 



1. S. bifolta, Desf. Stem mostly 2-lcavcd ; leaves cordate-oblong, 

 acute, subsessile, glabrous; raceme simple; flowers tetrandrous. Lindl. 

 Encu. p. 270. 



S. canadensis. Pu rsh, Am. I. p. 233. JSTutt. Gen. 1. p. 225. Bart. 

 Phil. 1. p. 167, Bart. Am. 2./;. 99. Icon, tab. 70./, 1. Florid. 

 Cestr. p. 41. 



Convallaria bifolia. Willd. Sp. 2. p. 1G4. Mx. Am. 1. p. 201. Pert. 

 Svn. 1. /'. 373. Jli*. A'c™. 2. />. 280. MuhL Catal. p. 35. JWyrf, Bost. 

 p. 132. Torr. FlA.p. 353. Ejusd. Com/), p. 154. JEa*. JJfan. j>. 103, 

 "Styrandra bifolia. iiecA^, Bot. p. 357. 



Two-leaved Smilacixa, 



Root perennial, creeping. Stem 4 to G inches high, often geniculate at the in- 

 sertion of the leaves. Leaves mostly 2 (sometimes 3), near the summit of the stem, 

 about *2 inches long, and an inch to an inch and half wide, more or less cordate, 

 acute or acuminate, glabrous, 6essile, or on very short petioles. Raceme oblong, 

 about an inch in length; pedicels mostly in pairs, spreading, about 1 fourth of an 

 inch long, with minute ovate colored bracts at base. Perianth white, deeply 4- 

 parted ; segments ovate-oblong, mostly reflexed. Stamens A. Style short; stigma 

 slightly bifid 1 (slightly 3-lobed, Torr.). Berry small, globose, mucronate, pale 

 red, speckled with purple spots when mature, mostly 1 or 2-seeded. Seed ovoid, 

 of a horny texture . 

 Hub. Rivulets on the Valley hills ; Wynn's meadows : rare. Ft- May. Fr. Aug. 



Obs. Dr. Beck considers this gencrically distinct from the other species of Smi* 

 Jacina; but it appears to me to present about the same kind of exception which 

 we find in Euonymus, Genliana, &c On the other hand,Drs. Torrey&ndi Bige* 

 low retain both Polygonatum and Smilacina&8 sub~genera 9 or sections of Conval- 

 laria. I have thought the middle course most eligible. 



2. S. stellata, Desf. Leaves numerous, oval-lanceolate, acute, ara- 

 plexicaul ; raceme simple. Beck, Bot. p. 358. 



Convallaria stellata. U'illd. Sp. 2. p. 1G3. Mx. Am. \. p. 202. Per*. 

 Syn. I. /'. 373. Ait. Kew. 2. p. 280. MuKL Catal. p. 35. Bigel. Bost. 

 p. 133. Torr.Fl. 1. p. 354. Ejusd. Comp. p. 154. Eat. Man. p. 104. 



Stellate, or Star-like Smilacina. 



Root perennial, creeping, somewhat tuberous. Stem9 to 12 inches high, nearly 

 terete, striate, smooth. Leaves about 9, 2 or 3 to 5 or G inches long, and an inch to 

 an inch and half wide, often acuminately tapering towards the apex, sessile and 

 amplcxicaul, ciliate-scabrous on the margin, and minutely ro ugh ish-pube scent on 

 the nerves beneath. Raceme simple, few-flowered ; pedicels solitary, angular, mi- 

 nutely scabrous, with small lance-ovate colored bracts at base. Perianth white, 

 deeply 6 parted ; segments oval-oblong, spreading. Style short, triangular ; stigma 

 obscurely 3-lobcd. 



Hab. Alone Parke's rivulet; Downinrtown: rare. Fl. May-June. /•>. 



19' 



