298 



SMILACE^E. 



Smilacina. 



long as the perianth : filaments subulate : anthers oval ; the cells opening laterally. Ovary 

 oblong, 2-celled, with 2 orthotropous ovules in each cell : style about the length of the ovary : 

 stigma slightly 3-lobed. Berry globose, nearly black, 2 - 3-seeded. 



Banks of rivers, etc. : frequent in the northern and western part of the State : not seen 

 below the Highlands of the Hudson. Fl. May - June. Fr. August. 



2. Smilacina trifolia, Desf. Three-leaved Smilacina. 



Stem about 3-leaved ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, acute, narrowed and somewhat clasping at 

 the base; raceme simple, few-flowered. — Desf. 1. c. p. 52; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 233; Beck, 

 hot. p. 358 ; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 175. Convallaria trifolia, Linn. sp. 1. p. 316 ; Gmel. 

 fl. Sib. 1. p. 36. t. 6 ; Michx.fl. \.p. 202 ; Torr.fl. I. p. 354 ; Bigel. fl. Bost.p. 132. 



Rhizoma creeping, jointed. Stem terete, 6-8 inches high, smooth. Leaves usually 3, 

 but sometimes only 2, nearly smooth on the margin. Raceme 4-6-flowered : pedicels about 

 2 lines long. Flowers white ; the segments oblong- lanceolate, obtuse, finally reflexed. 

 Stamens about two-thirds the length of the perianth : anthers oblong, introrse. Ovary trian- 

 gular-globose, 2-celled, with 2 ovules in each cell : style as long as the ovary : stigma slightly 

 3-lobed. Berry 2-seeded, black. Seeds globose : radicle remote from the hilum. 



Sphagnous swamps : northern and western counties. Fl. May. A native also of the - 

 northern parts of Europe. 



3. Smilacina racemosa, Desf. (Plate CXXX.) Wild Spikenard. 



Leaves numerous, oval-oblong, acuminate, strongly nerved, pubescent ; raceme compound, 

 paniculate. — Desf. I. c. p. 52; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 233; Nutt. gen. 1. p. 234; Ell. sk. 1. 

 p. 395 ; Beck, hot. p. 358 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 222 ; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 176. S. 

 ciliata, Desf. I. c. ; Pursh, I. c. Convallaria racemosa, Linn. sp. 1. p. 315 ; Bot. mag. t. 399 ; 

 Michx. fl. 1. p. 202 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 133 ; Torr. fl. I. p. 354. " Majanthem um race- 

 mosum, Link, enum. 1. p. 343." 



Rhizoma creeping, thick and fleshy. Stem 18 inches to 2 feet high, slightly angular, a 

 little fiexuous, smoothish below, pubescent above. Leaves 4-6 inches long and 2 inches or 

 more in breadth, conspicuously acuminate ; three of the nerves stronger than the others, and 

 all of them pubescent underneath ; the margin minutely ciliate. Flowers small, white, sweet- 

 scented, very numerous, in an oblong panicled compound raceme, the divisions alternate and 

 pubescent : pedicels about a line long. Segments of the perianth spreading, oblong. Stamens 

 about as long as the perianth : filaments flat and rather broad : anthers ovate-sagittate. Ovary 

 ovoid-globose, 3-celled ; the cells with 2 ovules : style very short, thick : stigma slightly 

 3-lobed. Berries red, dotted, somewhat translucent when ripe, 1 - 2-seeded. Seeds the 

 size of a peppercorn : embryo remote from the hilum. 



Moist grounds, thickets, etc. : frequent. Fl. May - June. Fr. September. 



