550 FLORA OF TEXAS. 



Sub-order II. Trilliaceae. (Trillium Family.) 

 Floiuers perfect, terminal. Anthers 2-celled. Styles or 

 stigmas 3. Ovules several in each cell of the ovary, ana- 

 tropous, horizontal. — Erect herbs. Leaves whorled. 



Exterior leaves of the perianth calyx-like, persistent. Stem 1-Jlowered. Leaves 3 in 

 a whorl, teitninal Trillium. 



Leaves of the perianth alike, deciduous. Stem few-flowered. Leaves 3-7 in a whorl, 

 lateral and terminal Medbola. 



SMILAX, Tourn. China Brier. 



Floioers dioecious; perianth bell-shaped, 6-leaved, the 

 leaves nearly equal and alike, deciduous ; stamens 6, in- 

 serted on the base of the perianth; anthers erect, 1-celled; 

 ovary free from the perianth, 1-3-celled, with a single or- 

 thotropous pendulous ovule in each cell ; stigmas 1-3 

 (mostly 3), sessile or nearly so, slender, spreading, or re- 

 curved ; terry 1-3-celled, 1-3-seeded ; seeds globular or 

 angled ; embryo minute, in horny albumen. — Woody and 

 commonly thorny or prickly viiies, climbing by means of 

 a pair of tendrils attached to the petioles ; leaves alternate, 

 ribbed, and reticulate-veined, mostly smooth and shining; 

 floioers small, greenish, in stalked axillary clusters. 



* Peduncles not longer than the petioles. 

 t Berries red. 



S. Walteri, Pursh. Stem low, armed with a few scat- 

 tered prickles near the base, otherwise unarmed ; branches 

 obscurely 4-angled ; leaves deciduous, membranaceous, 

 varying from oblong-lanceolate to oval, mucronate, acute, 

 rounded or rarely slightly cordate at the base, 5-ribbed ; 

 peduncles flattened, as long as the petioles and pedicels ; 

 perianth rather large (3" long), brownish ; stigmas 3 ; 

 berry (acuminate, Walt.) globular, 3-seeded. (S. caduca. 

 Ell.) Pine-barren ponds and swamps. March and April. 



