MELA N THA CEA E, 259 



Perianth-segments with 2 glands at the base of the blade. 



Blade of the perianth-segments oblong, entire; leaves linear. 1. M. Virfnnicum. 



Blade of the perianth-segments nearly orbicular, undulate; leaves oblanceolate. 



2. M. latifoliutn. 

 Perianth-segments oblanceolate, glandless; leaves oval. 3. M. parviflorum* 



1. Melanthium Virginicum L. Bunch-flower. (I. F. f. 981.) Stems 

 7-15 dm. high. Leaves linear, often 3 dm. long, 8-25 mm. wide, the lower sheath- 

 ing, the upper smaller, sessile; panicle 1.5-4.5 dm. long, its branches ascending; 

 pedicels much longer than the bracts; flowers 1.2-2 cm. broad, greenish yellow, turn- 

 ing brown; perianth-segments obtuse, the blade oblong, flat, entire, sometimes ob- 

 cordate, twice as long as the claw; capsule 1-1.5 cm. long, the persistent styles 

 erect; seeds 8-10 in each cavity. In meadows, wet woods and marshes, R. I. to 

 N. Y., Minn., Fla. and Tex. June- Aug. 



2. Melanthium latifolium Desr. Crisped Bunch-flower. (I. F. f. 982.) 

 Stem 6-12 dm. tall. Leaves oblanceolate, acute, 2.5 cm. wide, the lower clasping; 

 panicle usually 3 dm. long or more, its branches ascending or spreading; pedicels 

 6-16 mm. long; flowers 12-16 mm. broad; greenish white, turning darker; blade 

 of the perianth -segments orbicular or ovate, undulate and crisped, bearing 2 glands 

 at the base; capsule 12-16 mm. long, its cavities 4-8-seeded; flowers fragrant. 

 In dry woods and on hills, Conn, to Penn. and S. Car. July-Aug. 



Melanthium latifblium longipedicellatum A. Brown. Lower leaves 1-2 cm. wide, 

 and upper pedicels 2.5 cm. long. W. Va. 



3. Melanthium parvifldrum (Michx.) S. Wats. Small-flowered Melan- 

 thium. (I. F. f. 983.) Stem slender, 3-15 dm. tall. Lower leaves broadly oval 

 or oblanceolate, acute, 1-2 dm. long, 4-10 cm. wide, with narrow sheathing 

 bases, the upper narrowly linear-lanceolate ; panicle 3-6 dm. long, open, its slender 

 branches divergent or ascending; pedicels filiform, much longer than the bracts, 

 somewhat longer than the perianth-segments; flowers 8-10 mm. broad, greenish ; 

 perianth -segments oblanceolate, glandless, short-clawed or sessile; capsule IO- 

 12 mm. long. In dry woods, mountains of Va. to S. Car. June-Aug. 



xo. VERATRUM L. 



Tall perennial herbs, with short poisonous rootstocks, the leaves mostly broad, 

 clasping, strongly veined and plaited, the stem and inflorescence pubescent. Flow, 

 ers greenish, yellowish or purple, polygamous or monoecious, on short pedicels in 

 large terminal panicles. Perianth-segments 6, glandless or nearly so, not clawed, 

 adnate to the base of the ovary. Stamens opposite the perianth-segments and free 

 from them, short, mostly curved. Anthers cordate, their sacs confluent. Ovary 

 ovoid; styles 3, persistent. Capsule 3-lobed, 3-celled, the cavities several-seeded. 

 Seeds flat, broadly winged. [Ancient name of the Hellebore.] About 10 species, 

 natives of north temperate zone. Besides the following another occurs in the 

 southern U. S. and two on the Pacific coast. 



Flowers yellowish green; perianth-segments pubescent, ciliate. 1. V. viride. 



Flowers purple; perianth-segments glabrous or nearly so. 2. V. Woodii* 



i. Veratrum viride Ait. American White Hellebore. Indian Poke. 

 (I. F. f. 984.) Rootstock erect, 5-8 cm. long, 2-5 cm. thick. Stem stout, 0.6- 

 2.8 m. tall, very leafy; leaves acute, the lower broadly oval or elliptic, 1.5-3 dm. 

 long, 0.7-1.5 dm. wide, short-petioled or sessile, sheathing, the upper successively 

 narrower; panicle 2-6 dm. long, densely many-flowered, its lower branches spread- 

 ing or drooping; pedicels mostly shorter than the bracts; flowers 1.5-2 5 cm. 

 broad; perianth-segments oblong or oblanceolate, twice as long as the stamens; 

 ovary glabrous; capsule 2-2.5 cm - l° n g- ^ n swamps and wet woods, Quebec to 

 Alaska, Ga., Tenn., Minn, and Br. Col. May-July. 



2. Veratrum Woodii Robbins. Wood's False Hellebore. (I. F. f. 985.) 

 Rootstock short, erect. Stem slender, 0.6-1.5 m - ta ^; leaves mostly basal, oblong 

 or oblanceolate, 5-10 cm. wide, narrowed into sheathing petioles; upper leaves 

 small and linear-lanceolate, panicle open, 3-6 dm. long, its branches ascending; 

 pedicels shorter than the perianth; flowers 12-16 mm. broad, purple; perianth- 

 Segments oblanceolate, obtuse, entire, little longer than the stamens; ovary pubcs- 



