114 Uvularia perfoliata. 



Root white, palmate, divisions cylindrical, garnished with a few 

 yellowish-white radicles. Stem erect, flexuose, sheathed below with 

 lavender purple sheaths. Leaves yellow-green above, glaucous 

 underneath, petiolated, ovate, acute, three-nerved, striated, the 

 lowest one narrower than the others, and often cordate at base ; 

 and that one at the point of bifurcation of the stem, broader than 

 the rest. Flower solitary, of six, lanceolate, sulphur-yellow, acute 

 petals, pulverulently spotted with orange-yellow internally. Necta- 

 riferous furrow, a long narrow line. Pistil terminated by a trifurcate 

 stigma. Stamens half as long as the petals, convolute. Anthers long, 

 aboutthe length of the filaments, burs ting longitudinally at the inside 

 of each cell, yellow, each tipped with a cartilaginous, awl-shaped, 

 green point ; filament broad, one-eighth of an inch long. Capsule 

 truncate, trigonous. Seeds numerous. Grows in shady, damp woods? 

 along the margins of rills and other moist ground, from Canada to 

 Georgia, preferring loose soil. Flowers in early May. 



The genus Uvularia was established and named by Linnseus, but 

 the precise derivation of the term cannot now be ascertained. As 

 Uvularia is an old synonym for Ruscus hypoglossum, on account of 

 the diminutive leaves not unlike the uvula of the human thoat, lying 

 over the inflorescence of that plant, Dr. Smith conjectures that the 

 generic term was thence derived. 



The North American species are four or five in number. There 

 is some confusion relative to the present plant and the flava of 



