HEXANDBIA TRIGYNIA 235 



terminal whorl, at first recurved between the leaves, with *the flowers noddtn* 

 erect and purplish when in fruit. Pcricvith pale greenish yellow; xegment$ 

 lance-oblong, obtuse, nerved, revolute. Sligmas about half an inch long, thickUh> 

 linear, recurved, dark purple. Berry globose, 3-celled, dark pui pie when mature. 

 Seeds suborbicular, compressed, somewhat 3-sided,— usually but 1 perfected ia 

 each cell, the others abortive. 



Ifab. Shaded, moistgrounds; about spring heads: frequent. Fl IVIay,June..FV.Sept. 

 Obs. The delicate white tuber has been thought to resemble the cucumber, in 

 taste-; and is alleged to be diuretic in its properties. It is the only species of ths 

 i«nus,— having been separated, by Mr. Xuttall, from the Medeolas of Africa, 



188. TRILLIUM, L. Mat. Gen. 352. 

 [Latin, Trilix, triple ; several parts of its structure being in threes.'} 



Perianth deeply 6-parted, spreading ; the 3 outer segments sepaloid, 

 the 3 inner ones petaloid. Ovary superior ; stigmas sessile, spread- 

 ing, distinct, or approximate. Berry 3-celled ; cells many-seeded. 



Herbaceous: leaves in threes, verticillate at the summit of the stem, entire; 

 flowers solitary, terminal. Nat.Ord. 241). Lindl. SMILACBJB, 



1. T. pkxiiulum, JStuhl. Leaves roundish-rhomboid , acuminate, sub- 

 sessile ; peduncle mostly rcflexed, flower pendulous; petaloid segments 

 ovate, acuminate, rather larger than the outer ones. JBech, Bot. p. 361. 

 T. cernuum. Bart. Phil. I. p. 175. Bart. Am. 2. /;, 13. Icon, tab. 40. 

 BigeL liost.f). 141. Also, Pursh, Am, 1. p. 245. Nntt? Gen. 1. p. 

 239. EU? Sh. 1.//. 428. Torr. Fl. 1. p. 370. Ejusd. Comp. p. 161, 

 Deck, Bot. p. 361. Not of Willd. Sp. Mx. Pers. Ait. Muhl. nor? Eat. 



Pkstdulous Trillium:. Vulgo — Throe-leaved Nightshade. 



Root perennial. Stem 9 to 15 inches high. Leaves 3 to 5 inches long, and 2 to 4 

 inches wide, broadly rhomboid, or sometimes almost orbicular-ovate, with a 

 *hort abrupt acumi nation, acute at base, on a very short petiole. Peduncle terroi- 

 »al, from the bosom of the 3 leaves, half an inch to an inch long, mostly recurved 

 between the loaves, with the flower pendulous just below them. Outer segments 

 •f the perianth (or sepals) green, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate ; inner segment! 

 (or petals) white, ovate, or ovatc-oblong, acuminate. Berry roundish, or trigonous- 

 •toid, half an inch to near an inch in diameter, dark purple when mature. Seeds 

 numerous, oblong-ovoid, obtuse, striate, rugose-punctate, dark purple, 



Bab. Rich, moist, shaded grounds; borders of thickets: frequent. Fl. May. FY. Aug. 

 Obs. There has been much perplexity among the American Botanists, concern* 

 ing this species, in consequence of Pursh having confounded it with the true T. 

 strnutun, of the South (T. Catesbai, Ell. T. slylosum, Xutt.). See Dr. Baldwin's 

 note, in Florul. Cestr. p. 44. Nine or ten additional species arc enumerated in 

 tke U. States,— of which I have heard that the T. trectum, L. has probably bees 

 found near Kenncll Square, in this County ; but I have yet seen no authentic spo- 

 cimtn. 



189. RUMEX. L. JfutU Gen. 353, 

 [Latin, Rumtx, a pike, or spear ; from the shape of the leaves of some species.] 



Flowers sometimes inoicors. Perianth calyx-like, persistent, deep- 

 ly 6-parted, outer segments smaller. Ovary superior ; stigma* many- 

 cleft. Seed 9 or Nut, triquetrous, corered by the 3 inner valYifon* 

 segments of the perianth. 



