LILlACEiE. iJ75 



A. OFFICIANALIS, L. Garden Asparagus. 



Stem herbaceous, erect, rounded, much branched; leaves thrcad-liko, fasciculate 

 and flexible ; peduncles jointed in the middle. 



Cultivated in gardens, and naturalized. Jane. Stem 1 to 3 feet high. Flowers 

 •mall, solitary, drooping. Berry globose, red. 



2. POLYGONATUM, Tourn. Solomon's Seal. 



<5r. polus, many, and gonu, knee, alluding to the many jointed etome andrhizoma. 



Perianth tubular, 6-lobed at the summit. Stamens 6, 

 inserted on or above the middle of the perianth-tube, in- 

 cluded. Ovary 3-cellcd: style slender : stigma capitate 

 or triangular. Berry globular, blue or black, the cells 1 

 to 2-seeded. — Perennial herbs, with simple erect or curving 

 stems from thick and knotted creeping rootstocks, mostly alternate and 

 sessile or huff clasping, nerved leases, and axillary; nodding green- 

 u>h Jlowers. 



1. P. canaltculatum, Pursh. Great Solomon's Seal. 



Stem stout, angled or channelled; haves oblong-ovate, obtusely pointed, partly 

 clasping, smooth, nearly equally many-nerved; peduncles 2 to G-flowered, smooth ; 

 filament* smooth, shorter than the anthers, inserted en the middle of the perianth- 

 tube. (Convallaria caualiculatam, MvM.) 



Rich sandy river banks, common. June. Stem S to 5 feet high, curved. leaves 

 green on both sides. Ferianu'i cylindrical-oblong, greenish-white. 



2. P. pueescens, Pursh. Smaller Solomon's Seal 



Stem round, or slightly grooved on one side ; leaves ovate-oblong or elliptical- 

 lanceolate, minutely downy and glaucous underneath, with 3 to 5 principal nerves,. 

 Beesile ; peduncles 1 to 2-flowe-red, smooth ;Jilame?its minutely gland ular-puberulent, 

 inserted near the summit of the perianth. (Ccnvallaria pubescens, Mulil.) 



Woods and rocky banks, common. May, June. Stem 1 to 2 feet high, slightly 

 curved. Perianth ]/ 2 inch long, cylindrical-oblong, greenish. Ovules often^G in 

 each cell. 



3. SMILACINA, Desf. False Solomon's Seal. 



Name a.dimmutivc of Smilax, to which this genus, however', has little resemblance, 



Perianth 4 to 6-parted, spreading deciduous. Stamens 

 4 to 6, inserted at the perianth-lobes : filaments slender: 

 anthers short. Ovary 2 to 3-celled. Styles short and 

 thick : stigma obscurely 2 to 3-lobed. Berr/ globular, 

 1 and 2-seeded. — Perennial herbs, with simple stems from 

 creeping or thickit>h rootstocks, alternate nerved leaves, and white 

 often fragrant fowers in a terminal simple or compouud raceme. 

 Sac i. Smilvcixa, Desf.— Divisions of the perianth and stamens 6. 



1. S: RACEMOSA, Desf. False Spikenard. 



Minutely, downy; stem somewhat flexuous; leaves numerous, oblong or oval- 

 Ifcnceolate, acuminate, eiliate, abruptly ehort-petioled ; raceme compound, panicled; 

 wary 3 celled. 



