122 
lOAVA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
2. MELANTHACEAE R. Br. Proclr. 1: 272. 1810. 
BUNCir-FLOWEK FAMILY. 
This family of plants of wide distribution, comprising nearly forty 
genera and about one hundred and forty species, has in North America, 
north of Mexico, about nineteen genera and over fifty species. Of these 
four genera and five species are found in Iowa. The Melanthaceae are 
usually included with the Liliaceae from which they are separated by 
having the capsules mostly septicidal and the plants rarely from bulbs. 
The characters are: 
Leafy-stemmed herbs with rootstocks or bulbs, grass-like parallel- 
veined leaves, and perfect, polygamous, or dioecious flowers. Perianth 
of six separate or nearly separate segments. Stamens six, borne on the 
bases of the perianth-segments. Anthers small, 2-celled, oblong or ovate, 
or continently 1-celled and reniform or cordate. Ovary 3-celled, usually 
superior; ovules few or many. Styles 3, distinct, or somewhat united. 
Fruit a capsule with septicidal or rarely loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds 
frequently with tails or appendages. 
Flowei's numerous in lermiiml ere('t i-aoemes or panhics. 
I’lants glabrous. 
I’eriantb-segments bearing glands. 1. ZUjiulcnns. 
Plant with stem and inflorescence pubescent. 
I'erianth-segraents with claws, fi-ee from the ovary. 2. MclantJiium. 
Perianth-segments without claws, adnate to the base of the ovary. 8. 
^'cratn(>}^. 
Flowers solitary, terminal or opposite the leaves, drooping. 4. Uvularia. 
1. ZIGADENUS Michx. FI. Bor. Am. 1: 213. 1803. 
Erect perennial herbs, with rootstocks or bulbs, leafy stems, narrow 
linear leaves, and perfect or polygamous, greenish to whitish, paniculate 
or racemose flowers. Perianth persistent, withering. Stamens 6, free, 
about equal in length to the perianth segments; anthers cordate or reni- 
form. Capsule 3-lobed. 3-celled, the cavities ascending, close together, 
dehiscent to the base. Seeds oblong or linear, angled, few or many. 
1. ZiGAOEXiTs ELECAxs Pursh, FI. Am. Sept. 1: 241. 1814. Glau- 
cous Zigadenus. 
MelanlJiitdii (ilc/ncum, Nutt. Gen. 1 : 282. ISItL 
Zygadauis glonons Nutt. .Imirn. Acad. Phil.-'i. 7 : oG. 1S84. 
Plant from six inches to three feet in height, quite glaucous, from an 
ovoid membranous coated bulb; roots fibrous; stem slender, simple; 
leaves narrowly linear, the lower 4 — 14 inches, long and a half inch or 
less in width, the upper 1 — 3 inches in length; bracts conspicuous, lanceo- 
late, purplish or green, inflorescence in a raceme or panicle, 6 — 12 inches 
long, open, the branches slender and ascending; flowers greenish, 8 — 10 
lines broad; perianth-segments oval to obovate, obtuse, short-clawed, 
united below and adnate to the base of the ovary, each with a soli- 
tary large obcordate gland above the claw; capsule oblong, nearly one 
inch in length, exceeding the perianth. 
