CONVAI.LARIACEAE. 2*]l 



ova', 10-12 mm. in diameter. In moist woods, Lab. to Alaska, Ga., Mich, and 

 Ore. May-July. 



7. SALOMONIA Heist. 



Herbs, with thL*: jointed and scarred rootstocks, simple stems, scaly below, 

 leafy above, the leaves sessile and alternate in our species. Flowers greenish or 

 pinkish, axillary, drooping, peduncled, solitary or 2-10 in an umbel, the pedicels 

 jointed at the base of the flower. Perianth 6-lobed. Stamens 6, included ; fila- 

 ments adnate to the perianth for half their length or more; anthers sagittate, in- 

 trorse. Ovary 3-celled ; ovules 2-6 in each cavity ; style slender ; stigma small, 

 capitate or slightly 3-lobed. Berry globular, dark blue or nearly black, with a 

 bloom, in our species. [Named in honor of Salomon.] About 20 species, natives 

 of the north temperate zone. [Polygonatum Adans.) 



Leaves pubescent beneath ; filaments filiform, roughened. 1. P. biflorum. 



Plant glabrous throughout ; filaments smooth, somewhat flattened. 2. P. commutatum. 



1. Salomonia bifldra (Walt.) Britton. Hairy Solomon's Seal. (I. F. f. 

 1039.) Stem slender, glabrous, 2-9 dm. high. Leaves 4-10 cm. long, 1.2-5 cm - 

 wide, acute or acuminate at the apex, sometimes obtuse at the base, pubescent 

 especially on the veins and pale beneath, glabrous above; peduncles 1-4-flowered 

 (often 2-flowered); perianth 8-12 mm. long; filaments filiform, adnate to the peri- 

 anth for about three-fourths its length, papillose-roughened ; berry 6-8 mm. in 

 diameter. In woods and thickets, N. B. to Ont., Mich., Fla. and W. Va. April- 

 July. {P. biflorum Ell.) 



2. Salomonia commutata (R. & S.) Britton. Smooth Solomon's Seal. 

 (I. F. f. 1040.) Glabrous throughout; stem 0.3-2.5 m. high. Leaves 3-15 cm. 

 long, 7-10 cm. wide, narrowed, rounded or somewhat clasping at the base ; pe- 

 duncles 1-8-flowered, glabrous ; perianth 12-20 mm. long ; filaments somewhat 

 flattened, smooth, adnate to the perianth for half its length or more; berry 8-12 

 mm. in diameter. In moist woods and along streams, rarely in dry soil, R. I. to 

 Ont., Manitoba, Ga., La., Utah and N. Mex. May-July. {P. commutatum Dietr.) 



8. CONVALLARIA L. 



A low glabrous herb, with horizontal rootstocks and 2 or sometimes 3 erect 

 leaves, narrowed into sheathing petioles, the lower part of the stem bearing sheath- 

 ing scales. Flowers white (rarely pink), fragrant, nodding. Raceme 1-sided. Peri- 

 anth globose-campanulate, 6-lobed, deciduous, the short lobes recurved. Stamens 

 6, included ; filaments short, adnate to the lower part of the perianth ; anthers in- 

 trorse. Ovary 3-celled; ovules several in each cavity; style slender, 3 -grooved; 

 stigma small, capitate, slightly 3-lobed. Berry globose. [Latin from convallis, 

 valley, and the Greek for lily.] A monotypic genus of Europe, Asia and the 

 higher Alleghenies. 



1. Convallaria majalis L. Lily-of-the-valley. (I. F. f. 1041.) Stem 

 1-2.3 dm. high. Leaves oblong, or oval, appearing nearly basal, acute at both 

 ends, 1.2-3 dm. long, 2-6 cm. wide; basal scales large, one of them subtending an 

 erect angled scape shorter than the leaves; raceme 2-10 cm. long, loosely several- 

 flowered; pedicels filiform, recurved, 6-12 mm. long; perianth 6-8 mm. long; fila- 

 ments shorter than the anthers ; berry about 6 mm. in diameter. On the higher 

 mountains of Va., N. Car. and S. Car. Common in cultivation. May-June. 



9. MEDEOLA L. 



A slender erect unbranched herb, loosely provided with deciduous wool. Root- 

 stock thick, white, tuber-like, with somewhat the odor and taste of cucumbers. 

 Leaves of flowering plants in 2 (rarely 3; whorls; lower whorl of 4-10 oblong- 

 lanceolate or obovate leaves; upper whorl of 3-5 ovate or oval leaves, subtending 

 the sessile umbel of small greenish yellow declined flowers. Perianth of 6 separate 

 equal recurved segments. Stamens 6, hypogynous; filaments slender, longer than 

 the oblong extrorse anthers. Ovary 3-celled; ovules several in each cavity; styles 

 3. recurved. Berry globose. [Name from Medea, a sorceress, referring to the 

 supposed healing properties.] A monotypic genus of eastern N. Am. 



