IEBLANTHACE.fi. 387 



many-seeded.— Tall perennials, with simple stems, lance- 

 linear grass-like leaves, and an ample pyramidul panicle of cream' 

 colored racemose Jlowcrs. 



1. M. Virginicum, L. Virginian Mdanthlum. 



Leaves linear- lanceolate, Ion.; ; sepals ovate-hastate, at last oblong, flat, the gland* 

 distinct; filament cohering with the claws beyond the middle. 



Wet meadows, rather common. July. Stem?, to 4 feet high, leafy. Leaves 9 to 

 15 inches long, Bomewhat clasping at base, flowers greenish-white, the perfect 

 and sterile mixed, on short pedicels, in simple alternate racemes, together consti- 

 tuting a pyramidal panicle 10 to 15 inches long. 



%. M. iiybridum, Walt Ilybred Mslanthium. 



Leaves long-linear, nearly smaoth, clasping the stem ; sepals round-rhomboid or 

 broadly ovate, wavy, the glands united; filaments involved in the lower part of 

 the involute claws. 



Low and high grounds, rare. July— Sept. Stem 2 feet high, leafy. Leaves vary- 

 ing from lance-linear to lanceolate. Perianth very open, yellowish-green. 



5. VERATItUM, Toum. False Hellebore. 



Lat. vere) truly, atrum, black; in allusion to the color of the flowers or root. 



Flowers polygamous. Perianth of G spreading and 

 separate sepals, more or less contracted at the base, without 

 glands. Stamens 6, free from the sepals and shorther than 

 they, recurving. Styles 3, short, awl-shaped. Capsule 

 ovoid, membranaceous, 3-lobed, the carpels distinct at the 

 summit. — Somewhat pubescent perennials, with simple stems t 

 ])laiied 3 ranked leaves, and raceme-panicled dull or dark flowers. 



V. vieide, Ait. White Hellebore. Indian Poke. 



Leaves broad-ovate, plaited ; panicle pyramidal, with compound racemes. 



Swamps and low grounds, common. June. Stem stout, very leafy to the top, 

 2 to 4 feet high. Leaves large, Bheathing the stem at the base. Jb lowers yellowish- 

 green, moderately spreading. Hoot very poisonous. 



C. AMIAXTHEMUM, Gray. Fly-Poison. 



Qr. amiantos, pure, and anthos, flower ; alluding to the unspotted glandless perianth. 



Flowers perfect. Perianth widely spreading, the dis- 

 tinct petaloid sepals oval or obovate, sessile. Filaments 

 capillary. Anthers kidney-shaped or heart-shaped. Styles 

 filiform. Capsule ovoid conical, 3-lobed. Seeds nearly 

 wingless, 1 to 4 in each cell. — Perennial herbs, from a 

 bulbous bate, with simple scape like stems, linear-keeled grass-like 

 leaves, and handsome flowers in a simple or rarely compound dense 

 raceme. 



A. muscetoxicum, Gray. Fly-Poison. 



Leav es broadly linear, elongated, obtuse, as loug a3 the scape; raceme simple,, 

 ©blong or cylindrical ; cajpsule abruptly 3-horned; seeds oblong with a fleshy red 

 coat. 



