386 MELANTIIACE*:. 



closely sessile, downy underneath ; flowers solitary or in pairs ; sepals lance-linear, 

 acuminate, soon spreading, twice as long as the stamens. (Streptopus, Michr.) 



Rich woo'K rare. May. Sem, 12 to 15 inches high, with 2 to 3 forks near the 

 nuinmit. Flowers greenish-yellow, the sepals y % inch long, marked with conspicu- 

 ous cross-veinlets like the leaves. 



3. STREPTOPUS, Micbx. Twist-Stalk. 



Gr. streptos, twisted, and pous, foot, or stalk. 



Perianth 6-parted, recurved spreading from a bell-shaped 

 "base, the 3 inner sepals keeled. Stamens 6 : filaments 

 short, flattened : anthers arrow-shaped. Ovary with 

 many ovules in each cell : styles and even the stigmas 

 united into one ! Berry red, roundish-ovoid, with several 

 seeds in each cell. — Herbs with somewhat stout sterns, di- 

 vergently spreading branches, ovate and acuminate round clasping 

 leaves, and small /lowers on slender filiform peduncles. 



1. S. AMPLEXIFOLIUS, DC. Clapping Twist-Stalk. 



Leaves oblong-ovate, closely clasping, very smooth, glaucous beneath ; peduncU 

 abruptly bent or contorted near the middle; anthers acuminate, entire; stigma 

 entire, truncate. 



Low cold wordi*, rare. June. Stem 2 to 3 feet high, rouch at the base, forked. 

 Flowers greenuh-white, on a filiform peduncle, bent round the clasping base of tho 

 leav«s, rarely 2-howered. 



2. S. roseus, Michx. Rose Twist- Stalk. 



Leaves ovate-oblong, clasping, finely ciliate on the margin, green on both sidefl ; 

 tranches sparingly bent with short bristly hairs; anthers 2-horned ; stigma minutely 

 8-cleft. 



Cold damp woods, rare. May, June. Ter. Stem 12 to 18 inches high, 2 or 3- 

 forked at the upper part. Flowers rose-colored, 1 to 2 on filiform nodding peduncles. 



Sub-order ii. MELANTHIE.E. The True Colchicum 

 Family. 



Perianth mostly persistent, the sepals distinct or rarely 

 their claws united. Styles 3, seperate. Fruit a 3-celled, 

 3-parted capsule. — Herbs with, acrid poisonous properties, 

 and sometimes polygamous or dicecious flowers. 



4. MELANTHIUM, Gronov., L. 



Or. melas, blaek, anthos, flower; the flower becoming black after blossoming. 



Polygamous. Perianth petaloid, rotate, deeply 6-parted ; 

 the segments somewhat cordate, raised on slender claws, 

 with 2 glands at the bast. Stamens 6, on the claws of tho 

 perianth. Styles short, awl-shaped, tipped with simple 

 Capsule ovoid-conical, 3-lobed ; 3-celled, 



