MELA N THA CEA &. 257 



Capsule oblong:, pedicels slender, barely club-shaped. 1. C. luteum. 



Capsule obovoid, pedicels stout, club-shaped. 2. C. obovale. 



1. Chamaelirium hiteum (L.) A. Gray. Blazing-star. (I. F. f. 972.) 

 Staminate plant 3-7 dm. tall, the pistillate often taller and more leaf)-. Basal 

 leaves 5-20 cm. long, tapering into a long petiole; stem leaves lanceolate, the linear 

 acute or acuminate; staminate raceme finally erect, 7-22 cm. long, the pedicels 

 spreading; pistillate raceme erect; flowers nearly 6 mm. broad; capsules oblong, 

 7-10 mm. long. In moist meadows and thickets, Mass. to Ont., Mich., Fla. and 

 Ark. Spring. 



2. Chamaelirium obovale Small. Similar to the preceding. Pistillate 

 flowers slightly larger; capsules obovoid or oblong-obovoid, 12-14 mm. long, the 

 stout club-shaped pedicels about the same length. In open woods, N. Y. to W. Va. 

 and N. C. Spring. 



6. CHROSPERMA Raf. [AMIANTHIUM A. Gray.] 



An erect glabrous herb, with an ovoid-oblong coated bulb, and numerous long 

 blunt basal leaves, a few short ones on the stem. Flowers perfect, white, in a dense 

 terminal raceme, the lower ones first expanding. Perianth of 6 distinct glandless 

 persistent obtuse segments. Stamens inserted on the bases of the segments; anthers 

 small, reniform. Ovary ovoid, 3-lobed, 3-celled. Capsule 3-celled, dehiscent 

 above the middle, the cavities 1-2-seeded, its 3 divergent lobes tipped with the 

 subulate styles. Seeds ovoid, reddish brown. [Greek, referring to the colored 

 seeds.] A monotypic genus of eastern N. Am. 



1. Chrosperma muscaetoxicum (Walt.) Kuntze. Fly-poison. (I. F. f. 

 973.) Bulb nearly 2.5 cm. in diameter. Stem 4-12 dm. tall. Basal leaves shorter 

 than the stem, the upper bract-like; raceme becoming cylindric, 5-13 cm. long; 

 pedicels ascending, 8-20 mm. long; bractlets ovate; sepals obtuse, 4-6 mm. long; 

 filaments filiform; capsule 4-6 mm. in diameter, scarcely as long. In dry sandy 

 woods, L. I. to E. Penn., Fla., Tenn. and Ark. May -July. 



7. STENANTHIUM Kunth. 



Erect glabrous bulbous herbs, with small white or greenish, polygamous 

 flowers in an ample terminal panicle. Leaves linear, keeled. Perianth-segments 

 lanceolate, acuminate, glandless, spreading, persistent, adnate to the base of the 

 ovary. Stamens shorter than the perianth -segments; anthers cordate or reniform. 

 Ovary ovoid. Capsule ovoid-oblong, 3-lobed, finally dehiscent to the base, the 

 lol^es with short beaks. Seeds about 4 in each cavity, oblong. [Greek, in allusion 

 to the narrow perianth-segments.] The genus comprises only the two following 

 species: 



Leaves 4-6 mm. wide ; capsule reflexed. 1. S. gramineum. 



Leaves 6-20 mm. wide ; capsule erect. 2. S. robust tan. 



1. Stenanthium gramineum (Ker) Morong. Grass-leaved Stenanthium. 

 (I. F. f. 974.) Stem 9-12 dm. tall. Leaves grass-like, often 3 dm. long; the upper 

 reduced to small linear-lanceolate bracts; panicle open, simple or somewhat com- 

 pound, 3-6 dm. long, its branches nearly filiform, spreading or drooping; flowers 

 8-12 mm. broad; capsule ovoid-oblong, with a top-shaped base, 6-8 mm. long. 

 In dry soil, Va. and Ky. to Fla. and Ala. Aug. -Sept. 



2. Stenanthium robustum S. Wats. Stout Stenanthium. (I. F. f. 675.) 

 Stem stout, 9-15 dm. tall, usually leafy. Leaves often 3 dm. long or more; pan- 

 icle denser than that of the preceding, commonly longer, usually compound, its 

 branches spreading or ascending; flowers greenish or white, 12-16 mm. broad ; 

 capsule ovoid-oblong, 8-12 mm. long, erect, the very short beaks recurved-spread- 

 ing. In moist soil, S. Penn. and Ohio to S. Car. and Tenn. July-Sept. 



8. ZYGADENUS Michx. 



Glabrous erect perennial herbs, from bulbs or rootstocks, with leafy stems. 

 Leaves linear. Flowers greenish, yellowish or white, in a terminal panicle or 

 raceme. Perianth withering-p<rsistent, its segments separate or united below, 

 bearing I or 2 glands or a spot ju-t above the narrowed base. Stamens free from 

 the perianth segments ; anthers cordate or reniform. Capsule 3-lobed, 3-celled, 



