Smilacina. 



SMILACEiE. 



209 



** Majanthrmum, Mamch. (Slyrandra, Raf.). Segments of the perianth and stamens 4. 



4. Smilacina bifolia, Schultes. Two-leaved Solomon s-seal. 



Stem mostly 2-leaved ; leaves cordate-oblong, nearly sessile or petiolate, usually smooth 

 on both sides ; raceme simple, terminal. — Schult. syst. 7. p. 507; Darlingt.fl. Cest. p. 221 ; 

 Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 176. S. Canadensis, Pursh, fl. 1. p. 233; Bart. ft. N. Am. 2. 

 t. 70 ; Nutt. gen. 1. p. 225. Convallaria bifolia, Linn. sp. 1. p. 316 ; Michx. Jl. 1. p. 201 ; 

 Bigel fl. Bost. p. 132 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 353. Majanthemum bifolium, Lam. SfDC.fl. Fran. 

 3. p. 277 ; Desj. I. c. p. 53. M. Canadense, Desf. I. c. ; Red. Lil. 4. t. 216. /. 1. Sty- 

 randra bifolia, Raf. ; Beck, hot. p. 357. 



Rhizoma slender, creeping. Stem 4-6 inches high, mostly with 2 (sometimes 3) leaves 

 near the summit, and often with a larger radical leaf on a long petiole : stem-leaves about 2 

 inches long, the lower one (and sometimes also the upper) often furnished with a short petiole. 

 Flowers sweet-scented, having the odor of Convallaria majalis, but less intense, white, in an 

 oblong raceme ; the pedicels usually by pairs or in threes, 2-4 lines long. Segments of 

 the perianth oblong, obtuse, reflexed. Stamens rather shorter than the perianth : anthers 

 oblong, somewhat introrse. Ovary globose, depressed, 2-celled, with 2 ovules in each cell : 

 style a little longer than the ovary, simple, or sometimes cleft nearly to the base ; stigma 

 (in the undivided style) more or less distinctly 2-lobed. Berries globose, pale red speckled 

 with crimson, 1 - 2-seeded. 



Moist shady woods, particularly around the roots of trees : common. Fl. May. Fr. August. 

 Our plant does not differ essentially from the European species. 



4. POLYGON ATUM. Town. ; Desf. in ami. du mus. 9. p. 48 ; Endl. gen. 1181. 



SOLOMON' S-SEAL. 



[From the Greek, polys, many, and gonu, a knee or joint ; in allusion to the numerous joints of the rhizoma.] 



Perianth tubular, 6-cleft. Stamens 6 ; the filaments inserted on the upper part of the perianth. 

 Ovary 3-celled, with 2-6 orthotropous ovules in each cell. Berry globose, 3-celled ; the 

 cells 1 - 2-seeded. — Perennial herbs. Leaves sessile or clasping, alternate, or some- 

 times in whorls. Flowers axillary, nodding. 



1. Polygon atum multiflorum, Allioni. Common Solomon s-seal. 



Stem nearly terete ; leaves ovate-elliptical or elliptical-lanceolate, clasping ; peduncles 

 1 - 6-fiowered ; filaments smooth, or slightly pubescent ; ovules 3 - 6 in each cell of the 

 ovary. — Desf. 1. c. p. 50 ? P. multiflorum (3., Iiook.fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 176. P. multiflorum, 

 Beck, hot. p. 359 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 220. P. pubescens, P. multiflorum, P. canalicu- 

 latum, P. angustifolium, P. hirturn, and P. latifolium, Pursh, I. c. ; Beck, I. c. P. latifolium, 



38* 



