IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
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This plant grows in moist rich soil, in grassy or open places, bloom- 
ing during June and July. The plant has a wide range, extending from 
New Brunswick to Alaska, southward to New” York, Missouri and Mexico. 
Type locality: “On the waters of Cokahlaishkit river, near the Rocky 
Mountains.” 
Iowa specimens in the writer's herbarium are from Winneshiek, Alla- 
makee, Emmet, Osceola and Lyon counties. The species is quite common 
in the northern portion of the state, but appears to be absent in the cen- 
tral and southern portions. The writer once reported the species from 
Decatur county as a result of an error in determination. Mr. Peck has 
reported the species from Hardin county. 
Arthur, J. C. Contributions to the Flora of Iowa, p. 82, 187G. 
I’ammel, L. II. l‘roeee(Iings of the Iowa Academy of Sciences, 1805, Vol. 3, 
p. 134, 1890; Vol. 0, 1001, p. 177, 1902. 
Fitzpatrick, T. .1. Proceedings of the low'a Academy of Sciences, 1897, Vol. 
5, p. 129, 1898; Iowa Naturalist, Vol. 1. No. 1, pp. 8 — 9, August, 1904; Vol. 1, 
No. 4, p. 76, October, 1905 : Plant World, Vol. 7, No. 9, pp. 221 — 222, September, 
1904 ; The Melanthaceae of Iowa, p. 3. December, 1905. 
Fitzpatrick, T. J. and M. F. L. Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Sciences, 
1898, Voi. 6, p. 198, 1899. 
Cratty, R. I. I’roceedings of the Iowa Academy of Sciences, 1903, Vol. 11, 
p. 21.5, 1904. 
Peck, Morton R. Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Sciences, 1904, Vol. 
12, p. 203, 1905. 
2. MELANTPTIUM L. Sp. PI. 339. 1753. 
Tall perennial herbs with thick rootstocks, leafy pubescent stems, oval 
to linear mostly sheathing leaves, and monoecious or polygamous green- 
ish, white or cream colored paniculate flowers. Perianth of six spread- 
ing segments, persistent, clawed free from the ovary. Stamens adnate 
to the segments and shorter; anthers cordate or reniform, the sacs con- 
fluent. Ovary ovoid with three subulate spreading styles. Capsule 3- 
lobed, 3-celled, the cavities several-seeded, tipped by the remaining styles. 
Seeds flat, broadly wunged. 
1. Melaxtiitum vtrgixioum L. Sp. PI. 339. 1753. Bunch-flower. 
Stem stout 5—6 feet high; leaves linear, G — 16 inches long, 4 — 12 lines 
w'ide, acute, the lower sheathing, the upper smaller and sessile; panicle 
1 — 2 feet long, dense, pubescent, the branches ascending; pedicels about 
one inch in length; bracts ovate-oblong, shorter than the pedicels; flow- 
ers one-half inch to an inch across, greenish yellow, turning to brown, 
perianth-segments obtuse, the blade oblong, flat, entire, about twice the 
length of the claw, frequently obcordate, with two dark glands at the 
base; capsule about one-half inch in length; the styles 1 — 2 lines long, 
persistent, erect; seeds 2 — 3 lines long, 8 — 10 in each cavity. The type 
locality is; '‘Halntat in Virginia.” 
This rather showy plant is of infrequent occurrence in low moist 
meadows and prairies, blooming for the most part in July and August. 
Specimens at hand are from Johnson, Lee, Decatur, Adams and Union 
counties. Additional specimens in the State University herbarium are 
