ORDER CXXXI. MELA NTH ACE^E. 541 



terminal panicle. Leaves of the perianth equal, persistent. Capsule 

 3-sided, furrowed, 3-celled, pointed with the persistent styles. Seed 

 numerous, angled. — White. 2£. June. In wet soils. 2 — 4 feet. 



2. Z. hybri'dus, (Endl.) Leaves linear-lanceolate, elongated. Flowers 

 in panicles ; leaves of the perianth narrow, unguiculate ; lamina rhom- 

 boid, sub-orbiculate, margin undulate. — Greenish-yellow. 2£. Canada 

 to Georgia. 



Genus V.— MELANTHIUM. L. 6—3. 

 (From melas, black, and anthos, flower, in allusion to the dusky color of the flowers.) 



Perianth rotate, expanding; segments unguiculate, with 2 

 glands at the base. Stamens 6, arising from the claws of the 

 perianth. Capsule sub-ovate, 3-celled, partly trifid. Seed nu- 

 merous, winged. 



1. M. Virgin'icus, (Endl.) Stem erect, terete, pubescent, leafy. 

 Leaves long, linear-lanceolate, flat, smooth. Flowers in a large panicle, 

 pyramidal ; segments of the perianth ovate, somewhat hastate, flat. 

 Flowers polygamous. — Greenish-white. 2£. June — July. Wet mead- 

 ows. 3 — 4 feet. Zygadenus Virginicus 



2. M. monos'cus. Stem erect, pubescent. Leaves linear-lanceolate 

 flat. Flowers monoecious, the lower sterile, the upper fertile, in panic- 

 ulate racemes. Leaves of the perianth flat, slightly unguiculate. — 

 Greenish-white. If. July. Mountains. 1 — 2 feet. 



Genus VI.— UVULA' RIA. L. 6—1. 

 (From iwula, used in curing the disease of the uvula.) 



Perianth inferior, 6-parted, erect, with a nectariferous cavity 

 at the base. Stamens 6, hypogynous, short. Stigmas 3, re- 

 flexed. Capsule 3-celled, 3-valved, many-seeded, angled. 



1. U. perfolia'ta, (L.) Stem erect. Leaves perfoliate, elliptic, ob 

 tuse. Perianth campanulate, granular within. Flowers solitary, axil 

 lary, nodding. Capsule 3-angled, truncate. — Yellow. If. April. Com 

 mon. 8 — 12 inches. 



2. U. fla'va, (Smith.) Leaves perfoliate, elliptic, oblong, obtuse, un 

 dulate at the base. Perianth tapering at the base, scabrous within 

 Anthers awned. — Bright yellow. 2£. May — June. Sandy soils. Com 

 mon. 8—12 inches. 



3. U. grandiklo'ra, (Smith.) Leaves perfoliate, oblong, acute. Pe 

 rianth glabrous. Anthers un awned. Nectaries nearly round ; pistil 

 shorter than the stamens. — Yellow. If. May — June. Rocky hills, 

 12 — 18 inches. 



4. U. puber'ula, (Mich.) Leaves oval, rounded at the base, amplex 

 icaul, pubescent along the margin. Flowers few, glabrous. — Yellow, 

 May — June. Upper Car. and Geo. 8 — 12 inches. 



5. U. sessilifo'lia, (Pers.) Leaves sessile, lanceolate-oval, many 

 nerved. Flower 1, on a short peduncle. Segments of the perianth flat, 

 emooth within. — Yellow. %, May — June. Common. 8 — 12 inches 



