Class II. MONOCOTYLEDONOUS or ENDOGENOUS PLANTS.

Stems with no manifest distinction into bark, wood, and pith, but the woody fibre and vessels in bundles or threads which are irregularly imbedded in the cellular tissue; perennial trunks destitute of annual layers. Leaves mostly parallel-veined (nerved) and sheathing at the base, seldom separating by an articulation, almost always alternate or scattered and not toothed. Parts of the flower commonly in threes. Embryo with a single cotyledon, and the leaves of the plumule alternate.

Order 108. HYDROCHARIDÀCEÆ. (Frog's-bit Family.)

Aquatic herbs, with diœcious or polygamous regular flowers, sessile or on scape-like peduncles from a spathe, and simple or double floral envelopes, which in the fertile flowers are united into a tube and coherent with the 1–3-celled ovary. Stamens 3–12, distinct or monadelphous; anthers 2-celled. Stigmas 3 or 6. Fruit ripening under water, indehiscent, many-seeded. Seeds ascending, without albumen; embryo straight.

Tribe I. HYDRILLEÆ. Stem elongated, submerged, leafy. Spathes small, sessile.

1. Elodea. Leaves verticillate (rarely opposite). Perianth-tube long-filiform.

Tribe II. VALLISNERIEÆ. Stemless. Leaves elongated. Spathes pedunculate.

2. Vallisneria. Submerged; grass-like. Fertile flower solitary on a very long scape.

Tribe III. STRATIOTEÆ. Stem very short, with crowded leaves. Spathes pedunculate. Ovary 6–9-celled.

3. Limnobium. Stemless, floating; broad leaves long-petioled.

1. ELODÈA, Michx. Water-weed.

Flowers polygamo-diœcious, solitary and sessile from a sessile tubular 2-cleft axillary spathe. Sterile flowers small or minute, with 3 sepals barely united at base, and usually 3 similar or narrower petals; filaments short and united at base, or none; anthers 3–9, oval. Fertile flowers pistillate or apparently perfect; perianth extended into an extremely long capillary tube; the limb 6-parted; the small lobes obovate, spreading. Stamens 3–9, often with imperfect anthers or none. Ovary 1-celled, with 3 parietal placentæ, each bearing a few orthotropous ovules; the capillary style coherent with the tube of the perianth; stigmas 3, large, 2-lobed or notched, exserted. Fruit oblong, coriaceous, few-seeded.—Perennial slender submerged herbs, with elongated branching stems, thickly beset with pellucid and veinless, 1-nerved, sessile, whorled or opposite leaves. The staminate flowers (rarely seen) commonly break off, as in Vallisneria, and float on the surface, where they expand and shed their pollen around the stigmas of the fertile flowers, raised to the surface by the prolonged calyx-tube, which varies in length according to the depth of the water. (Name from ἑλώδης, marshy.)

1. E. Canadénsis, Michx. Leaves in 3's or 4's, or the lower opposite, varying from linear to oval-oblong, minutely serrulate; stamens 9 in the sterile flowers, 3 or 6 almost sessile anthers in the fertile. (Anacharis Canadensis, Planchon.)—Slow streams and ponds, common. July.

2. VALLISNÈRIA, L. Tape-grass. Eel-grass.

Flowers strictly diœcious; the sterile numerous and crowded in a head on a conical receptacle, enclosed in an ovate at length 3-valved spathe which is borne on a very short scape; stamens mostly 3. Fertile flowers solitary and sessile in a tubular spathe upon an exceedingly lengthened scape. Perianth (calyx) 3-parted in the sterile flowers; in the fertile with a linear tube coherent with the 1-celled ovary, but not extended beyond it, 3-lobed (the lobes obovate); also 3 linear small petals. Stigmas 3, large, nearly sessile, 2-lobed. Ovules very numerous, scattered over the walls, orthotropous. Fruit elongated, cylindrical, berry-like.—Stemless plants, with long linear grass-like leaves, wholly submerged. The staminate clusters being confined to the bottom by the shortness of the scape, the flower-buds themselves break from their short pedicels and float on the surface, where they shed their pollen around the fertile flowers, which are raised to the surface by sudden growth at the same time; afterwards the thread-form scapes (2–4 feet long) coil up spirally, drawing the fruit under water to ripen. (Named for Ant. Vallisneri, an early Italian botanist.)

1. V. spiràlis, L. Leaves linear, thin, long and ribbon-like (1–6° long), obscurely serrulate, obtuse, somewhat nerved and netted-veined.—Common in slow waters, N. Eng. to Fla., west to Minn. and Tex.

3. LIMNÒBIUM, Richard. American Frog's-bit.

Flowers diœcious, (or monœcious?) from sessile or somewhat peduncled spathes; the sterile spathe 1-leaved, producing about 3 long-pedicelled flowers; the fertile 2-leaved, with a single short-pedicelled flower. Calyx 3-parted or cleft; sepals oblong-oval. Petals 3, oblong-linear. Filaments entirely united in a central solid column, bearing 6–12 linear anthers at unequal heights; there are 3–6 awl-shaped rudiments of stamens in the fertile flowers. Ovary 6–9-celled, with as many placentæ in the axis, forming an ovoid many-seeded berry in fruit; stigmas as many as the cells, but 2-parted, awl-shaped.—A stemless perennial herb, floating in stagnant water, proliferous by runners, with long-petioled and round-heart shaped leaves, which are spongy-reticulated and purplish underneath; rootlets slender, hairy. Sterile flowers rather small; the fertile larger; peduncle nodding in fruit. Petals white? (Name from λιμνόβιος, living in pools.)

1. L. Spóngia, Richard. Leaves 1–2´ long, faintly 5-nerved; peduncle of sterile flower about 3´ long and filiform, of the fertile only 1´ long and stout.—Stagnant water, N. J. to Fla.; also L. Ontario, Ill., and Mo.

Order 109. BURMANNIÀCEÆ. (Burmannia Family.)

Small annual herbs, often with minute and scale-like leaves, or those at the root grass-like; the flowers perfect, with a 6-cleft corolla-like perianth, the tube of which adheres to the 1-celled or 3-celled ovary; stamens 3 and distinct, opposite the inner divisions of the perianth; capsule many-seeded, the seeds very minute.—A small, chiefly tropical family.

1. BURMÁNNIA, L.

Ovary 3-celled, with the thick placentæ in the axis. Filaments 3, very short. Style slender; stigma capitate-3-lobed. Capsule often 3-winged. (Named for J. Burmann, an early Dutch botanist.)

1. B. biflòra, L. Stem low and slender (2–4´ high), 2-flowered at the summit, or soon several-flowered; perianth (2–3´´ long) bright blue, 3-winged.—Peaty bogs, Va. to Fla.

Order 110. ORCHIDÀCEÆ. (Orchis Family.)

Herbs, clearly distinguished by their perfect irregular flowers, with 6-merous perianth adnate to the 1-celled ovary, with innumerable ovules on 3 parietal placentæ, and with either one or two gynandrous stamens, the pollen cohering in masses. Fruit a 1-celled 3-valved capsule, with innumerable minute seeds, appearing like fine saw-dust. Perianth of 6 divisions in 2 sets; the 3 outer (sepals) mostly of the same petal-like texture and appearance as the 3 inner (petals). One of the inner set differs more or less in figure, direction, etc., from the rest, and is called the lip; only the other two taking the name of petals in the following descriptions. The lip is really the upper petal, i.e. the one next to the axis, but by a twist of the ovary of half a turn it is more commonly directed forward and brought next the bract. Before the lip, in the axis of the flower, is the column, composed of a single stamen, or in Cypripedium of two stamens and a rudiment of a third, variously coherent with or borne on the style or thick fleshy stigma; anther 2-celled; each cell containing one or more masses of pollen (pollinia) or the pollen granular (in Cypripedium). Stigma a broad glutinous surface, except in Cypripedium.—Perennials, often tuber-bearing or tuberous-rooted; some epiphytes. Leaves parallel-nerved, all alternate. Flowers often showy, commonly singular in shape, solitary, racemed, or spiked, each subtended by a bract,—in all arranged for fertilization by the aid of insects, very few capable of unaided self-fertilization.

Tribe I. EPIDENDREÆ. Anther terminal, erect or inclined, operculate. Pollinia smooth and waxy, 4 or 8 (2 or 4 in each cell), distinct, or those in each cell (or all in n. 3 and 7) united at base. (Pollinia 8 only in n. 7 of our genera.)

[*] Green-foliaged plants, from solid bulbs, with 1 or 2 leaves.

[+] Column very short; leaf solitary.

1. Microstylis. Flowers racemose, minute, greenish. Petals filiform.

[+][+] Column elongated; leaves radical.

[++] Whole plant (except the flowers) green.

2. Liparis. Leaves 2. Raceme few-flowered. Lip flat, entire.

3. Calypso. Leaf solitary. Flower large, solitary. Lip saccate.

[++][++] A single green autumnal leaf; otherwise mainly brownish or purplish.

4. Tipularia. Raceme many-flowered; flowers small, greenish; lip 3-lobed.

5. Aplectrum. Raceme loose; flowers rather large; lip 3-ridged, not spurred or saccate.

[*][*] Leafless, with coralloid roots; whole plant brownish or yellowish; flowers racemose.

6. Corallorhiza. Pollinia 4, in 2 pairs. Flower gibbous or somewhat spurred, and lip with 1–3 ridges; sepals and petals 1–3-nerved.

7. Hexalectris. Pollinia 8, united. Flower not gibbous; sepals and petals several-nerved; lip with 5–6 ridges.

Tribe II. NEOTTIEÆ. Anthers erect upon the back of the column at the summit, or terminal and opercular. Pollinia granular or powdery, more or less cohering in 2 or 4 delicate masses, and attached at the apex to the beak of the stigma.

[*] Anthers without operculum, erect upon the back of the short column. Flowers small, in spikes or racemes.

8. Listera. Stem from a fibrous root, 2-foliate. Lip flat, 2-lobed.

9. Spiranthes. Stems leafy below, from tuberous-fascicled roots. Flowers 1–3-ranked in a twisted spike. Lip embracing the column below, with 2 callosities at base.

10. Goodyera. Leaves radical, white-reticulated. Lip entire, free from the column, saccate, without callosities.

[*][*] Anther operculate, erect and jointed upon the short column. Stem stout, very leafy.

11. Epipactis. Flowers racemose; perianth spreading; lip dilated above.

[*][*][*] Anther terminal, operculate, incumbent; column elongated. Stem scapose or few-leaved; flowers large, solitary or few.

12. Arethusa. Leaf and flower solitary. Lip bearded, its base adherent to the linear column. Pollinia 4.

13. Calopogon. Leaf solitary, grass-like. Lip bearded, stalked, free. Column winged at the apex. Pollinia 4.

14. Pogonia. More or less leafy. Lip crested, free. Column clavate. Pollinia 2.

Tribe III. OPHRYDEÆ. Anther without operculum, the cells adnate to the top of the column and often continuous with the beak of the stigma. Pollinia 2, of coarse grains united by an elastic web, each attached at base by a stalk to a viscid gland. Flower (in ours) ringent and spurred, spicate upon a leafy stem.

15. Orchis. The two glands or viscid disks enclosed in a common pouch.

16. Habenaria. The two glands naked, either approximate or widely separated.

Tribe IV. CYPRIPEDIEÆ. Perfect anthers 2, lateral, the sterile one forming a dilated fleshy appendage above the terminal stigma. Pollen granular, not in masses.

17. Cypripedium. Stems more or less leafy. Perianth spreading; lip an inflated sac.

1. MICRÓSTYLIS, Nutt. Adder's-Mouth.

Sepals oblong, spreading. Petals thread-like or linear, spreading. Lip auricled or ovate at base, not tubercled, entire or nearly so. Column very small, terete, with 2 teeth or auricles at the summit and the erect anther between them. Pollen-masses 4, in one row (2 in each cell), cohering by pairs at the apex, waxy, without any stalks, threads, or gland.—Low herbs, from solid bulbs, producing simple stems, which bear in our species a single leaf and a raceme of minute greenish flowers. (Name composed of μικρός, small, and στυλίς, a column or style.)

1. M. monophýllos, Lindl. Slender (4–6´ high); leaf sheathing the base of the stem, ovate-elliptical; racemes spiked, long and slender; pedicels not longer than the flowers; lip long-pointed.—Cold wet swamps, N. New Eng. to Penn., N. Ind., Minn., and northward. July. (Eu.)

2. M. ophioglossoìdes, Nutt. Leaf near the middle of the stem, ovate, clasping; raceme short and obtuse; pedicels much longer than the flowers; lip truncate-3-lobed at the summit, the middle lobe very small.—Low moist ground, N. Scotia to Fla., west to Minn. and Mo. July.—Pollinia (at least sometimes) only 1 in each cell.

2. LÍPARIS, Richard. Twayblade.

Sepals and petals nearly equal, linear, or the latter thread-like, spreading. Lip flat, entire, often bearing 2 tubercles above the base. Column elongated, incurved, margined at the apex. Anther lid-like, terminal; pollen-masses 4, in one row (2 to each cell), slightly united in pairs, without stalk, threads, or gland.—Small, low herbs, with solid bulbs, producing 2 root-leaves and a low scape, which bears a raceme of few purplish or greenish flowers. (Name from λιπαρός, fat or shining, in allusion to the smooth or unctuous leaves.)

1. L. liliifòlia, Richard. Leaves ovate; petals thread-like, reflexed; lip large (1½´ long), wedge-obovate, abruptly short-pointed, brown-purplish.—Moist woodlands, N. Eng. to Ga., west to Minn. and Mo. June.

2. L. Lœsèlii, Richard. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate or oblong, keeled; lip obovate or oblong (2´´ long), mucronate, yellowish-green, shorter than the linear unequal petals and sepals.—Bogs, N. Scotia to Md., S. Ill., and Minn. (Eu.)

3. CALÝPSO, Salisb.

Sepals and petals nearly similar, ascending, spreading, lanceolate, pointed. Lip larger than the rest of the flower, sac-shaped, inflated (9´´ long), 2-pointed underneath the apex. Column broadly winged and petal-like, ovate, bearing the lid-like anther just below the apex; pollen-masses waxy, 2, each 2-parted, all sessile on a square gland.—A little bog-herb; the solid bulbs producing a single ovate or slightly heart-shaped thin leaf, as in Aplectrum, and a short (3–5´ high) scape, sheathed below, bearing a large and showy (variegated purple, pink, and yellow) flower. (Name from the goddess Calypso.)

1. C. boreàlis, Salisb.—Cold bogs and wet woods, the bulbs resting in moss, with a coralloid root beneath; Maine and Vt. to Mich. and Minn., and northward. May.—A very local and beautiful plant. Lip somewhat resembling that of a Lady's Slipper, woolly-hairy inside. (Eu.)

4. TIPULÀRIA, Nutt. Crane-fly Orchis.

Sepals and petals spreading, oblong; the latter rather narrower. Lip prolonged beneath into a thread-like ascending spur twice or thrice the length of the flower (9–12´´ long), 3-lobed; the middle lobe linear, a little wavy, as long as the petals, the side lobes short and triangular. Column narrow and wingless. Anther lid-like, terminal; pollen-masses 2, waxy, each 2-parted, connected by a linear stalk with the transverse small gland.—Herb with large solid bulbs connected horizontally, on a distinct pedicel, producing in autumn a single ovate nerved and plaited leaf on a slender petiole, purplish beneath, and in summer a long slender scape, with 1 or 2 sheaths at base, bearing a raceme of many small greenish flowers tinged with purple. (Name from a fancied resemblance of the flowers to insects of the genus Tipula.)

1. T. díscolor, Nutt. Scape 10–18´ high; lip blunt at the tip.—Sandy woods, Vt. to N. J. and Fla., west to Mich.; very scarce.

5. APLÉCTRUM, Nutt. Putty-root. Adam-and-Eve.

Perianth neither gibbous nor with any trace of a spur or sac at the base. Lip free, the palate 3-ridged. Otherwise the flowers and scape (invested below with 3 greenish sheaths) as in Corallorhiza; but, instead of a coral like root, a slender naked rootstock produces each year a thick, globular, solid bulb or corm, often 1´ in diameter (filled with exceedingly glutinous matter), which sends up late in summer a large, oval, many-nerved and plaited, petioled, green leaf, lasting through the winter, and early in the succeeding summer its scape is terminated by a loose raceme of dingy rather large flowers. (The name composed of α- privative and πλῆκτρον, a spur, from the total want of the latter.)

1. A. hiemàle, Nutt. Stem 1° high or more; perianth greenish-brown, or the lip whitish, and somewhat speckled with purple, 5–6´´ long.—Woods, in rich mould; rather rare or local, N. Eng. to Ga., west to Minn. and Mo.—Each corm lasts 2 or 3 years before it shrivels, so that 3 or 4 are found horizontally connected.

6. CORALLORHÌZA, Haller. Coral-root.

Perianth somewhat ringent, oblique and gibbous or obscurely spurred at base; the oblong or lanceolate sepals and petals nearly alike, 1–3-nerved, the upper arching; the lateral sepals ascending, their bases with that of the lip forming the gibbosity or short spur which is mostly adnate to the summit of the ovary; lip slightly adherent to the base of the 2-edged straightish column, bearing a pair of projecting ridges on the face below, spreading or recurved at the apex. Anther terminal, lid-like. Pollen-masses 4, obliquely incumbent, soft-waxy, free.—Brownish or yellowish herbs, destitute of green foliage, with much-branched and toothed coral-like root-stocks (probably root-parasitical), sending up a simple scape, with sheaths in place of leaves and bearing a raceme of rather small dull-colored flowers; fruit reflexed. (Name composed of κοράλλιον, coral, and ῥίζα, root.)

§ 1. Small spur or sac adnate to the summit of the ovary; flowers small; lip whitish or purplish, often mottled with crimson.

1. C. innàta, R. Brown. Plant slender, light brownish or yellowish (3–9´ high), 5–12-flowered; pedicels very short; perianth 2–2½´´ long; lip somewhat hastately 3-lobed above the base, the lamellæ thick and rather short; spur a very small protuberance; capsule oval or elliptical (3–4´´ long).—Swamps and damp woods, N. Eng. to northern N. J., Ohio, Mich., Minn., and northward, and south in the mountains to Ga. May, June. (Eu.)

2. C. odontorhìza, Nutt. Plant light brown or purplish; stem rather slender, bulbous-thickened at base (6–16´ high), 6–20-flowered; pedicels rather slender; perianth about 3´´ long; lip entire or merely denticulate, thin, broadly ovate or obovate, abruptly contracted into a claw-like base, the lamellæ a pair of short projections; the spur represented by a small cavity wholly adnate to the summit of the ovary; capsule at first very acute at base, at length short-oval (4´´ long).—Rich woods, E. Mass. (Hitchings) and Vt. to N. J. and Fla., west to Mich, and Mo. May–July.

3. C. multiflòra, Nutt. Plant purplish, rather stout (9–18´ high), 10–30-flowered; perianth 2½–4´´ long; lip deeply 3-lobed, with a short narrowed base and with prominent lamellæ; spur manifest and protuberant; capsule oblong (6–9´´ long), short-pedicelled.—Dry woods, N. Eng. to Md., west to Mo., Iowa, and Minn. July–Sept.

§ 2. Spur none; the broadly gibbous somewhat saccate base wholly free from the ovary; flowers large for the genus, purple, unspotted, more expanding.

4. C. striàta, Lindl. Plant purplish, stout (6–16´ high), bearing 15–25 large flowers in a crowded spike, on very short pedicels; perianth 6–7´´ long; lip oval or obovate, perfectly entire, concave, barely narrowed at the base, where it bears 1–3 short lamellæ; all the parts of the perianth marked with 3 darker nerves; pod oblong (9´´ long). (C. Macræi, Gray.)—Woods, from L. Erie westward along the Great Lakes and to the Pacific.

7. HEXALÉCTRIS, Raf.

Sepals and petals nearly equal, somewhat spreading, several-nerved, not gibbous nor spurred at base, free. Lip obovate, with 5–6 prominent ridges down the middle, 3-lobed above, the middle lobe somewhat concave. Pollen-masses 8, united into a single fascicle. Otherwise as in Corallorhiza. (Name probably from ἕξ, six, and ἀλεκτρυών, a cock, from the crests of the lip.)

1. H. aphýllus, Raf. Stem 1–2° high, beset with purplish scales, the lower sheathing; flowers racemed, bracteate, brownish-purple, 6–8´´ long. (Bletia aphylla, Nutt.)—Rich woods, Ky. and Mo. to Fla. and Mex.

8. LÍSTERA, R. Brown. Twayblade.

Sepals and petals nearly alike, spreading or reflexed. Lip mostly drooping, longer than the sepals, 2-lobed or 2-cleft. Column wingless; stigma with a rounded beak. Anther borne on the back of the column at the summit, erect, ovate; pollen powdery, in 2 masses, joined to a minute gland.—Roots fibrous. Stem bearing a pair of opposite sessile leaves in the middle, and a spike or raceme of greenish or brownish-purple small flowers. (Dedicated to Martin Lister, an early and celebrated British naturalist.)

[*] Column very short; sepals ovate, reflexed; plants delicate, 4–8´ high.

1. L. cordàta, R. Brown. Leaves round-ovate, somewhat heart-shaped (½–1´ long); raceme smooth; flowers minute, crowded, on pedicels not longer than the ovary; lip linear, twice as long as the sepals, 1-toothed each side at base, 2-cleft.—Cold woods, N. J. to Mich., Minn., and northward. June. (Eu.)

2. L. austràlis, Lindl. Leaves ovate; raceme loose and slender; flowers very small, on minutely glandular-pubescent pedicels twice the length of the ovary; lip linear, 3–4 times the length of the sepals, 2-parted, the divisions linear-setaceous.—Damp thickets, Oswego Co., N. Y., and from N. J. to Fla. June.

[*][*] Column longer, arching or straightish.

3. L. convallarioìdes, Nutt. Plant 4–9´ high; leaves oval or roundish, and sometimes a little heart-shaped (1–1½´ long); raceme loose, pubescent; pedicels slender, lip wedge-oblong, 2-lobed at the dilated apex, and 1-toothed on each side at the base, nearly twice the length of the narrowly lanceolate spreading sepals, purplish, {1/3}´ long.—Damp mossy woods, N. New Eng. to Mich., Minn., and northward, and south in the mountains to N. C.

9. SPIRÁNTHES, Richard. Ladies' Tresses.

Perianth somewhat ringent, oblique on the ovary; the sepals and petals all narrow, mostly erect or connivent, the three upper pieces sticking together more or less, the two lower covering the base of the lip. Lip oblong, short stalked or sessile, the lower part involute around the column, and with a callous protuberance on each side of the base; the somewhat dilated summit spreading or recurved, crisped, wavy, or rarely toothed or lobed. Column short, oblique, bearing the ovate stigma on the front, and the sessile or short-stalked (mostly acute or pointed) 2-celled erect anther on the back. Pollen-masses 2 (one in each cell), narrowly obovate, each 2-cleft, and split into thin and tender plates of granular pollen united by elastic threads, and soon adhering at base to the narrow boat-shaped viscid gland, which is set in the slender or tapering thin beak terminating the column. After the removal of the gland, the beak is left as a 2-toothed or 2-forked tip.—Roots clustered-tuberous; stem more or less naked above, leaf-bearing below or at the base. Flowers small (ours all white or greenish-white), bent horizontally, 1–3-ranked in a spike, which is commonly more or less spirally twisted (whence the name, from σπείρα, a coil or curl, and ἄνθος, flower).

[*] Flowers in 3 ranks, crowded in a close spike; leaves at the root and base of the stem present at the flowering season.

1. S. latifòlia, Torr. Low; naked stem or scape 4–9´ (rarely 12´) high, smooth; leaves all next the base, oblong or lance-oblong (1–4´ long, 3–9´´ wide), 3–5-nerved, contracted into a sheathing base; spike narrow (1–3´ long); flowers small (2–3´´ long); lip quadrate-oblong, yellowish on the face, not contracted in the middle, thin, wavy-crisped at the very obtuse or truncate apex, the small callosities at the base oblong, marginal and adnate for their whole length; gland and beak of the stigma short.—Moist banks, Vt. and W. Mass. to Mich. and Minn., south to Del. and Md.

2. S. Romanzoffiàna, Cham. Stem leafy below and leafy-bracted above (5–15´ high); leaves varying from oblong-lanceolate to grassy-linear; spike dense, oblong or cylindrical (1–4´ long); perianth curved and the summit manifestly ringent, pure white (4´´ long), the sepals and petals all connivent in the upper portion or galea; the lip ovate-oblong, contracted below the rounded wavy-crenulate much recurved summit, otherwise entire, the callosities at base globular and smooth; gland oblong-linear and the 2-horned beak of the stigma short.—High and cool bogs, N. New Eng. to Mich. and Minn., and northward; Norfolk, Conn. (Barbour); central N. Y. July, Aug. (Ireland.)

3. S. cérnua, Richard. Stem leafy below and leafy-bracted above (6–20´ high); leaves linear-lanceolate, the lowest elongated (4–12´ long, 2–9´´ wide); spike cylindrical, rather dense (2–5´ long) and with the white fragrant flowers either pubescent or nearly smooth; perianth horizontal or recurving (4–5´´ long), the lower sepals not upturned or connivent with the upper; lip oblong and very obtuse when outspread, but conduplicate or the margins much incurved, wavy-crisped above the middle, especially at the flattish and recurved-spreading apex, the callosities at the base prominent, nipple-shaped, somewhat hairy; gland of the stigma linear, in a long and very slender beak.—Common in wet places, especially eastward and southward. Sept., Oct. Very variable in size and foliage, often nearly losing its root-leaves at flowering time.—A variety, growing in dry ground but retaining its leaves and blooming somewhat later, has greenish cream-colored or yellowish stronger-scented flowers. E. Mass. and Del.

[*][*] Flowers in one straight or spirally twisted rank.

[+] Stem bearing elongated leaves at and toward the base, which mostly persist during the flowering season.

4. S. præ̀cox, Watson. Root of fleshy or tuberous-thickened fibres; stem 9´–2° high; lower and root-leaves linear or lance-linear (3–8´ long, 2–4´´ wide) gradually tapering to the base, the upper reduced to sheathing bracts; spike linear, dense (2–5´ long), usually much twisted, the axis, ovaries, etc., downy-pubescent; bracts ovate and gradually, or rhombic-ovate and abruptly taper-pointed, surpassing the ovary, the margins broadly hyaline; perianth 3´´ long; lip ovate-oblong when outspread, with rather small callosities at base, crisped at the rounded slightly recurved apex; anther and beak of the stigma very acute. (S. graminea, var. Walteri, Gray.)—Wet, grassy places, Mass. to N. J. and Fla.

[+][+] Scape very slender, merely bracted; the leaves with a blade all in a cluster at the ground, ovate or oblong, abruptly contracted into a petiole, commonly withering away at or before flowering; flowers small, and whole plant glabrous or nearly so; bracts small, sharp-pointed, not longer than the capsule.

5. S. grácilis, Bigelow. Roots clustered, tuberous-thickened; scape 8–18´ high, bearing a slender many-flowered one-sided or twisted spike; perianth barely 1½–2´´ long; lip oval when outspread, narrowly oblong in natural form, thickish and green above with thin white margins, the recurved obtuse or acutish apex wavy-crisped, the callosities at the base nipple-shaped.—Hilly woods and sandy plains, common. July–Oct.

6. S. símplex, Gray. Root a solitary oblong or spindle-shaped tuber; no leaves at flowering time; scape 5–9´ high, bearing a small narrow (rarely 1-sided) spike (1–3´ long) of very short flowers (perianth 1–1½´´ long); lip thin, white, obovate-oblong, the apex eroded and crisped, the callosities at the base slender.—Dry sandy soil, E. Mass. to N. J., Del., and Md. Aug., Sept.

10. GOODYÈRA, R. Br. Rattlesnake-Plantain.

Lip sac-shaped, sessile, entire, and without callosities at base. Otherwise as Spiranthes.—Root of thick fibres, from a somewhat fleshy creeping rootstock, bearing a tuft of thickish petioled leaves, usually reticulated with white veining. Scape, spike, and the greenish-white small flowers usually glandular-downy. (Dedicated to John Goodyear, an early English botanist.)

§ 1. Lip strongly saccate-inflated and with a short spreading or recurved tip; anther short, borne on a distinct filament attached to the back of the short column, blunt; gland-bearing tip or beak of the stigma very short.

1. G. rèpens, R. Br. Small (5–8´ high) and slender; leaves ovate, more or less white-reticulated (about 1´ long); flowers several, in a loose 1-sided spike; lip with an ovate recurved tip; sepals ovate.—Woods, under evergreens, common northward and through the Alleghanies. Aug. (Eu.)

2. G. pubéscens, R. Br. Larger; leaves strongly white-reticulated; scape 6–12´ high, the numerous crowded flowers not one-sided; tip of the globular lip very short; otherwise like the preceding, and too near to it.—Rich woods, Newf. to Fla., west to Mich. and Minn.

§ 2. Lip barely saccate below, tapering and its sides involute above; anther ovate, long-pointed, borne on the base of the very short column, which is continued above the stigma into a conspicuous tapering awl-shaped gland-bearing beak.

3. G. Menzièsii, Lindl. Leaves ovate-oblong, acute (2–3´ long), less white-reticulated than the preceding, some not at all so; scape 9–12´ high; flowers rather numerous in a looser often 1-sided spike; flower-buds less pubescent, elongated-ovate and pointed; lip with the saccate-conduplicate lower portion gradually tapering into the narrow barely spreading summit.—Woods, Gaspe and Tadousac, L. Can. (J. A. Allen, Goodale); Crawford, N. H. (Miss Minns); western N. Y. to Minn., and westward. July.

11. EPIPÁCTIS, Haller.

Sepals and petals nearly equal, spreading. Lip free, deeply concave at base, narrowly constricted and somewhat jointed in the middle, the upper portion dilated and petaloid. Column short, erect. Anther sessile behind the broad truncate stigma, on a slender-jointed base; pollen-masses coarsely granular, becoming attached to the gland capping the small rounded beak of the stigma.—Stem leafy, with racemed flowers, conspicuous bracts, and ovaries reflexed at maturity. (The ancient Greek name of a plant.)

1. E. Helleborìne, Crantz. Stems 1–2° high; leaves broadly ovate (2–3´ long), pointed, plicate, the upper narrower; raceme pubescent, 30–50-flowered, 1-sided; flowers varying from light greenish-yellow to dark purple; sepals ovate-lanceolate, 3–4´´ long; petals rather smaller; lip ovate, pointed above, with a dark centre. (E. latifolia, All.)—Near Syracuse and Buffalo, N. Y.; the only known stations. (Eu.)

12. ARETHÙSA, Gronov.

Flower ringent; the lanceolate sepals and petals nearly alike, united at base, ascending and arching over the column. Lip dilated and recurved-spreading toward the summit; very slightly gibbous at base. Column adherent to the lip below, petal-like, dilated at the apex. Anther lid-like, terminal, of 2 approximate cells; pollen-masses powdery-granular, 2 in each cell.—Beautiful low herbs, consisting of a sheathed scape from a globular solid bulb, terminated usually by a single large rose-purple flower. Leaf solitary, linear, nerved, hidden in the sheaths of the scape, protruding after flowering. (Dedicated to the nymph Arethusa.)

1. A. bulbòsa, L. Flower single (rarely 2), erect (1–2´ long), with an entire lip recurved at the apex and bearded-crested down the face.—Bogs, Newf. to the mountains of N. C., west to Ind. and Minn.

13. CALOPÒGON, R. Br.

Flower with the ovary or stalk not twisting, therefore presenting its lip on the upper or inner side. Sepals and petals nearly alike, lance-ovate, spreading, distinct. Lip spreading, distant from the column, raised on a narrowed base or stalk, dilated at the summit, strongly bearded along the upper side. Column free, slender, winged at the apex. Anther terminal and lid-like, sessile; pollen-masses 4 (two in each cell), of soft powdery grains, lightly connected by delicate threads.—Scape from a small solid bulb, sheathed below by the base of the grass-like leaf, naked above, bearing several large flowers. Bracts minute. (Name composed of καλός, beautiful, and πώγων beard, from the bearded lip.)

1. C. pulchéllus, R. Br. Leaf linear; scape about 1° high, 2–6-flowered; flowers 1´ broad, pink-purple; lip as if hinged at the insertion, beautifully bearded toward the dilated summit with white, yellow, and purple club-shaped hairs.—Bogs, Newf. to Fla., west to Minn. and Mo.

14. POGÒNIA, Juss.

Flower irregular, the sepals and petals separate. Lip crested or 3-lobed. Column free, elongated, club-shaped, wingless. Anther terminal and lid-like, stalked; pollen-masses 2 (one in each cell), powdery-granular. (Πωγωνίας bearded, from the lip of some of the original species.)

§ 1. Sepals and petals nearly equal and alike, pale rose-color, sometimes white.

1. P. ophioglossoìdes, Nutt. Root of thick fibres; stem (6–9´ high) bearing a single oval or lance-oblong leaf near the middle and a smaller one or bract near the terminal flower, rarely one or two others with a flower in the axil; flower 1´ long, sweet-scented; lip spatulate, appressed below to the column, beard-crested and fringed.—Bogs, Newf. to Fla., west to N. Ind. and Minn. June, July. (Japan.)

2. P. péndula, Lindl. Stem (3–8´ high) from oblong tubers, bearing 3 to 7 alternate ovate-clasping very small (3–6´´) leaves, the upper 1–4 with drooping flowers in their axils on slender pedicels; perianth ½´ long, narrow; lip spatulate, somewhat 3-lobed, roughish or crisped above, crestless.—Damp woods, N. Eng. to Fla., west to Wisc. and Mo.

§ 2. Sepals linear, dingy or brownish, longer and much narrower than the erect or connivent petals; lip 3-lobed at the apex, crested down the middle, beardless; flowers solitary (or rarely a pair), terminal; root a cluster of fibres.

3. P. divaricàta, R. Br. Stem (1–2° high) bearing a lanceolate leaf in the middle, and a leafy bract next the flower, which is recurved on the ovary; but the sepals ascending or diverging, spatulate-linear, longer than the lanceolate-spatulate pointed and flesh-colored petals, these about 1–1½´ long.—Wet pine-barrens, N. J. to Fla. June, July.

4. P. verticillàta, Nutt. Stem (6–12´ high) naked, except some small scales at the base and a whorl of mostly 5 obovate or obovate-oblong sessile leaves at the summit; flower dusky purplish, on a peduncle longer than the ovary and capsule; sepals more than twice the length of the petals, narrowly linear, spreading from a mostly erect base (1½–2´ long); lip with a narrow crest down the middle.—Low woods, N. Eng. to Fla., west to Ind. and Wisc.; rather rare, especially eastward. May, June. Glaucous when young. Fruit-stalk erect, about 1½´ long, more than half the length of the leaves.

5. P. affìnis, Austin. Somewhat smaller than the preceding; leaves paler and rather narrower; flowers (not rarely in pairs) yellowish or greenish; peduncle much shorter than the ovary and capsule; sepals but little longer than the petals, tapering to the base; lip crested over the whole face and on the middle of the lobes.—Low woods, S. W. Conn., S. New York, and N. New Jersey; rare.

15. ÓRCHIS, L.

Flower ringent; the sepals and petals nearly equal. Lip turned downward, coalescing with the base of the column, spurred below. Anther-cells contiguous and parallel. Pollen cohering in numerous coarse waxy grains, which are collected on a cobweb-like elastic tissue into 2 large masses (one filling each anther-cell) borne on a slender stalk, the base of which is attached to a gland or sticky disk of the stigma, the two glands contained in a common little pouch or hooded fold, placed just above the orifice of the spur. Flowers showy, in a spike.—Our species with low scape-like stems, with 1 or 2 leaves at base, from fleshy-fibrous roots. (Ὁρχις, the ancient name.)

1. O. spectábilis, L. (Showy Orchis.) Root of thick fleshy fibres, producing 2 oblong-obovate shining leaves (3–6´ long), and a few-flowered 4 angled scape (4–7´ high); bracts leaf-like, lanceolate; sepals and petals all lightly united to form the vaulted galea or upper lip, pink-purple, the ovate undivided lip white.—Rich woods, N. Brunswick to Ga., west to Minn. and Mo. May.

2. O. rotundifòlia, Pursh. Stem naked above, 1-leaved at base (5–9´ high), from a slender creeping rootstock; leaf varying from almost orbicular to oblong (1½–3´ long); flowers rose-purple, the lip white and spotted with purple, 3-lobed, and the larger middle lobe dilated and 2-lobed or strongly notched at the summit (4–6´´ long), exceeding the ovate-oblong petals and sepals, and the slender depending spur. (Habenaria rotundifolia, Richardson.)—Damp woods and bogs, N. Maine to Vt., N. Y., Minn., and northward.

16. HABENÀRIA, Willd. Rein-Orchis.

Glands or viscid disks (to which the pollen-masses are attached) naked and exposed, separate, sometimes widely so (becoming attached, some to the proboscis, others to the face or head of insects feeding upon the nectar of the spur, the pollen thus carried from one blossom to another); otherwise nearly as in true Orchis; the lateral sepals, however, mostly spreading. (Name from habena, a thong or rein, in allusion to the shape of the lip or spur of some species.)

§ 1. GYMNADÈNIA. Cells of the anther parallel and approximate, their glands therefore contiguous. (Appendages of the stigma in our species two or three and much developed, oblong or club-shaped.)

1. H. tridentàta, Hook. Stem slender (6–12´ high), with a single oblong or oblanceolate obtuse leaf below, and 2 or 3 small ones like bracts above; spike 6–12-flowered, oblong; flowers greenish or whitish, very small; lip wedge-oblong, truncate, and with 3 short teeth at the apex; the slender and slightly club-shaped spur curved upward, longer than the ovary.—Wet woods, N. Eng. to Minn. and Ind., and south in the mountains to N. C. June, July.—Root of few fleshy fibres. Appendages of the stigma three, oblong-club-shaped, one outside each orbicular gland and one between them, rising as high as the anther-cell, their cellular viscid summits receiving pollen in the unopened flower, and penetrated by pollen-tubes!

2. H. íntegra, Spreng. Root of very fleshy fibres (or some of them tuber-like); stem several-leaved (15´ high), the 1 or 2 lower leaves elongated, oblong-lanceolate, acute, the others becoming smaller and bract-like; spike densely many-flowered, oblong-cylindrical; flowers orange-yellow, small, lip ovate, entire or slightly crenulate or wavy, shorter than the awl-shaped descending spur.—Wet pine-barrens, N. J. to Fla. July.—Appendages of the stigma two, lateral, oblong, fleshy; beak or middle appendage narrow.

3. H. nívea, Spreng. Stem slender, 1–1½° high, many-leaved, the 1 or 2 lower leaves lance-linear and 4–8´ long, the others small and bract-like; spike cylindrical, loosely many-flowered; flowers white, small; petals and entire lip linear-oblong; spur thread-shaped, ascending, as long as the white ovary, which is not twisted.—Pine-barren swamps, S. Del. to Fla. Aug.

§ 2. PERULÀRIA. Cells of the anther nearly parallel, the valves of each extended at base so as to form the sides of a deep oblong groove or cavity, which is lined by the dilated orbicular and incurved gland. (Flowers small, greenish, slender-spurred.)

4. H. viréscens, Spreng. Leaves ovate-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, the uppermost linear-lanceolate and pointed, passing into the bracts of the elongated raceme; petals ovate; flowers dull green; lip furnished with a tooth on each side and a strong nasal protuberance in the middle of the base, oblong, truncate-obtuse, about the length of the sepals, half the length of the slender club-shaped spur.—Wet places, common; N. Eng. to Fla., west to Minn. and Mo. June, July.—Stem 10–20´ high; the spike at first dense, with the bracts longer than the flowers, at length elongated and often loose, the upper bracts shorter than the flowers, which are quite small, and with scarcely a tinge of yellow, drying brownish.

§ 3. PLATANTHÈRA. Cells of the anther sometimes parallel, more commonly divergent, so that their tapering bases and the exposed glands are more or less distant. (Root a cluster of fleshy fibres, or tuberous-thickened.)

[*] Flowers greenish or white, small, numerous in a close spike; spur not longer than the entire or merely notched narrow lip; anther-cells almost parallel, wholly adnate; stem leafy.

[+] Spur short and sac-like; the 3 sepals and 2 narrow petals erect; glands small, rather widely separated.

5. H. bracteàta, R. Br. Stem 6–12´ high; lower leaves obovate, the upper oblong and gradually reduced to lanceolate acute bracts 2–4 times the length of the green flowers; spike 10–30-flowered; lip oblong-linear or slightly spatulate, truncate and 2–3-toothed or lobed at the tip, more than twice the length of the white spur. (H. viridis, var. bracteata, Reichenb.)—Damp woods and meadows, N. Eng. to Minn., Iowa, Ind., south in the mountains to N. C., and far northward.

[+][+] Spur slender, incurved, about equalling the entire lip; lateral sepals spreading.

6. H. hyperbòrea, R. Br. Stem very leafy (6´–2° high); leaves lanceolate, erect; spike dense (2–15´ long); lower bracts lanceolate, longer than the (greenish) flowers; lip and petals lanceolate, somewhat equal, the latter spreading from the base; anther somewhat overhanging the transversely dilated stigma; glands orbicular; stalk of the pollen-masses very slender and weak.—Peat bogs and wet cold woods, N. Eng. to N. Y., S. Ill., Iowa, and northward. June, July. (Eu.)

7. H. dilatàta, Gray. Resembles n. 6, but usually more slender, with narrower commonly linear leaves; flowers white; lip lanceolate from a rhomboidal-dilated base, entire, its base with the bases of the petals and sepals erect-connivent, above spreading; anther-cells almost parallel; glands approximate, large and strap-shaped, vertical, nearly as long as the pollen-mass and its short flat stalk together; stigma narrow; a trowel-shaped conspicuous beak between the bases of the anther-cells.—Cold bogs, Conn. to N. Y., Mich., Minn., and northward.

[*][*] Flowers greenish or white, 5–15 in a loose spike, rather large for the size of the plant; scape or stem naked above, 1-leaved at base (5–9´ high); spur not longer than the lip; anther-cells wholly adnate, arcuate and widely separated.

8. H. obtusàta, Richardson. Leaf obovate or spatulate-oblong; upper sepal very broad and rounded, the others and the petals lance-oblong; lip entire, linear or lanceolate, deflexed (3´´ long), about the length of the tapering and curving spur.—Cold peat bogs, Maine and N. New Eng. (Mt. Wachusett, Mass.), to Minn. and northward. (Eu.)

[*][*][*] Flowers white or greenish, numerous in a loose spike, on a naked scape, 2-leaved at base; spur longer than the narrow entire lip; anther-cells widely diverging, their narrowed beak-like bases projecting forward; stalk of the pollen-mass laterally affixed to the back of the orbicular gland, the viscous face of which looks obliquely inward.

9. H. Hoókeri, Torr. Leaves orbicular, spreading (3–4´ broad); scape mostly naked (½–1° high), bearing 10–20 upright sessile yellowish-green flowers in a strict spike; sepals ovate-lanceolate; lip lanceolate, pointed, incurved, longer than the lance-awl-shaped petals; spur slender, acute, about the length of the ovary (nearly 1´ long).—Damp woods and borders of swamps, N. Scotia to N. J., west to Minn. and Iowa.—Var. oblongifòlia, Paine, has oblong leaves (3–5´ by 1½–2´). N. Y. and Can.

10. H. orbiculàta, Torr. Leaves very large (4–8´ wide), orbicular, spreading flat on the ground, shining above, silvery beneath; scape bracted (1–2° high), bearing many spreading greenish-white flowers in a loose raceme; upper sepal orbicular, the lateral ovate; lip narrowly linear and slightly spatulate, obtuse, drooping, nearly thrice the length of the oblong-lanceolate and falcate obtuse petals; spur curved, slender (about 1½´ long), gradually thickened toward the blunt apex, twice the length of the ovary; anther-cells strongly projecting at the free beak-like base (the glands nearly ¼´ apart).—Rich woods (especially coniferous), Newf. to Penn. and in the mountains to N. C., west to Mich. and Minn.

[*][*][*][*] (Fringed Orchis.) Flowers several or many in an open spike, with mostly foliaceous bracts; stem (rather tall) leafy; spur thread-shaped or scarcely club-shaped, longer than the fringed, cleft, or dissected lip; anther-cells widely separated and usually diverging, their narrow beak-like bases, supported by the arms of the stigma, strongly projecting forward or partly upward.

[+] Lip pectinately fringed but undivided; flowers golden yellow or white; anther-cells widely divergent, the orbicular glands as if raised on a tentacle projecting far forward or slightly inward; ovary long, tapering to the summit.

11. H. cristàta, R. Br. Lower leaves lanceolate, elongated; the upper gradually reduced to sharp-pointed bracts, nearly the length of the crowded (yellow) flowers; spike oblong or cylindrical; petals rounded, crenate; lip ovate, with a lacerate-fringed margin, scarcely shorter than the slender obtuse incurved spur, which is not half the length of the ovary.—Bogs, N. J. to Fla. July. Flowers very much smaller than in the next.

12. H. ciliàris, R. Br. (Yellow Fringed-Orchis.) Stem 1½–2° high; leaves oblong or lanceolate; the upper passing into pointed bracts, which are shorter than the ovaries; spike oblong, rather closely many-flowered; flowers bright orange-yellow; lateral sepal rounded, reflexed; petals linear, cut-fringed at the apex; lip oblong (6´´ long), about half the length of the spur furnished with a very long and copious capillary fringe.—Wet sandy places, N. Eng. to Fla. and Tex., west to Mich. and Ind. Our most handsome species.

13. H. blephariglóttis, Torr. (White Fringed-Orchis.) Stem 1° high; leaves, etc., as in the last; flowers white, rather smaller; petals spatulate, usually slightly cut or toothed at the apex; lip ovate- or lanceolate-oblong, with the irregular capillary fringe of the margins usually shorter than its disk, one third the length of the spur.—Peat bogs and borders of ponds, Newf. to N. J., west to Mich. and Minn. July.—Var. holopétala, Torr., has narrower petals with the toothing obsolete, and the lip less fringed.

[+][+] (Greenish Fringed-Orchis.) Lip 3-parted above the stalk-like base, the divisions cut into capillary fringes; flowers greenish- or yellowish-white; anther-cells not very divergent, the beaked bases projecting forward; the large glands oval or lanceolate, nearly facing each other; ovary short-tapering above; spurs long, clavate.

14. H. leucophæ̀a, Gray. Stem 2–4° high; leaves oblong-lanceolate; the bracts similar, rather shorter than the (large, fragrant) flowers; spike commonly elongated, loose; petals obovate, minutely cut-toothed; divisions of the lip (7–10´´ long) broadly wedge-shaped or fan-shaped, many-cleft to the middle into a copious thread-like fringe; spur longer than the ovary (1–1½´ long); glands transversely oval.—Moist meadows, western N. Y. to Ky., Mo., and Minn. July.

15. H. lácera, R. Br. (Ragged Fringed-Orchis.) Leaves oblong or lanceolate; raceme loosely many-flowered; petals oblong-linear, entire; divisions of the lip narrow, deeply parted into a few long nearly capillary lobes; spur about the length of the ovary; glands oblong-linear, as long as the stalk of the pollen-mass.—Bogs and moist thickets, N. Scotia to N. C. and Ga., west to Minn. and Mo.; common. July.

[+][+][+] (Purple Fringed-Orchis.) Lip fan-shaped, 3-parted above the stalk-like base, the divisions erosely fringed; flowers purple; anther-cells widely separated, little divergent, the orbicular glands oblique; ovary contracted only at the summit; the long curving spur somewhat clavate.

16. H. psycòdes, Gray. Leaves oblong or lanceolate, the uppermost passing into linear-lanceolate bracts; raceme cylindrical, densely many-flowered; lower sepals round-oval, obtuse; petals wedge-obovate or spatulate, denticulate above; divisions of the spreading lip broadly wedge-shaped, many-cleft into a short fringe.—Wet meadows and bogs, common; Newf. to N. C., west to Ind. and Minn. July, Aug.—Flowers short-pedicelled, crowded in a spike of 4–10´ in length, small, but very handsome, fragrant; lip short-stalked, barely ½´ broad and not so long; the middle lobe broadest and more closely fringed, but not so deeply cleft as the lateral ones.

17. H. fimbriàta, R. Br. Lower leaves oval or oblong, the upper few, passing into lanceolate bracts; spike or raceme oblong, loosely-flowered; lower sepals ovate, acute; petals oblong, toothed down the sides; divisions of the pendent large lip (¾–1´ broad) fan-shaped, more fringed.—Wet meadows, N. Scotia to N. J. and N. C., west to Mich. June.—Flowers fewer (lilac-purple), 3 or 4 times larger than those of the preceding.

18. H. peramœ̀na, Gray. Lower leaves oblong-ovate, the upper lanceolate; spike oblong or cylindrical, densely flowered; lower sepals round-ovate; petals rounded-obovate, raised on a claw; divisions of the large lip very broadly wedge-shaped, irregularly eroded-toothed at the broadly dilated summit, the lateral ones truncate, the middle one 2-lobed.—Moist meadows and banks, Penn. and N. J. to Ill., and south in the mountains. Aug.—Flowers large and showy (violet-purple); the lip paler and 8–10´´ long, variably toothed, but not fringed.

17. CYPRIPÈDIUM, L. Lady's Slipper. Moccason-flower.

Sepals spreading; all three distinct, or in most cases two of them united into one under the lip. Petals spreading, resembling the sepals but usually narrower. Lip a large inflated sac. Column declined; on each side a fertile stamen, with its short filament bearing a 2-celled anther; the pollen loose and pulpy or powdery-granular; on the upper side a dilated-triangular, petal-like but thickish body, which answers to the fertile stamen of other Orchids, and covers the summit of the style; stigma terminal, broad, obscurely 3-lobed, moist and roughish (not smooth and viscid as in the rest of the order). Pollen in most of our species, especially in n. 6, exposed by the conversion of the face of the anther into a viscid, varnish-like film, which adheres to whatever touches it, carrying away some of the pollen.—Root of many tufted fibres. Leaves large, many-nerved and plaited, sheathing at the base. Flowers solitary or few, large and showy. (Name composed of Κύπρις, Venus, and πόδιον, a sock or buskin, i.e. Venus's Slipper.)

§ 1. The three sepals separate; stem leafy; flower solitary, drooping.

1. C. arietìnum, R. Br. (Ram's-head L.) Stem slender (6–10´ high); upper sepal ovate-lanceolate, pointed; the 2 lower and the petals linear and nearly alike (greenish-brown), rather longer than the red and whitish veiny lip (6´´ long), which is somewhat pubescent, especially within, and prolonged at the apex into a short blunt conical point; leaves 3 or 4, elliptical-lanceolate, nearly smooth.—Cold swamps and damp woods, Maine to N. Y., Mich. and Minn., and northward.

§ 2. Two of the sepals united into one under the lip.

[*] Stem leafy to the top, 1–3-flowered; lip slipper-shaped or roundish, much inflated, horizontal, and with a rounded open orifice.

[+] Sepals and linear wavy-twisted petals brownish, pointed, longer than the lip.

2. C. cándidum, Muhl. (Small White Lady's Slipper.) Slightly pubescent, 1-flowered; leaves lance-oblong, acute; petals and sepals greenish, purple-spotted; sepals ovate-lanceolate; lip (not 1´ long) white, striped with purple inside, flattish laterally, convex above; sterile stamen lanceolate.—Bogs, N. Y. and Penn. to Minn., Mo., and Ky.; rare. May, June.

3. C. parviflòrum, Salisb. (Smaller Yellow L.) Stem 1–2° high leaves oval, pointed; sepals ovate or ovate-lanceolate; lip flattish from above, bright yellow (1´ long or less); sterile stamen triangular.—Bogs and low woods, Newf. to Ga., west to Minn. and E. Kan. May, June.—Flowers fragrant; sepals and petals more brown-purple than in the next, into which it seems to pass.

4. C. pubéscens, Willd. (Larger Yellow L.) Stem 2° high, pubescent, as are the broadly oval acute leaves; sepals elongated-lanceolate; lip flattened laterally, very convex and gibbous above, 1½–2´ long, pale yellow.—Bogs and low woods; same range as the last.

[+][+] Sepals and petals plane, rounded, white, not longer than the lip.

5. C. spectábile, Swartz. (Showy L.) Downy, 2° high; leaves ovate, pointed; sepals round-ovate or orbicular, rather longer than the oblong petals; lip much inflated, white, pink-purple in front (1½´ long); sterile stamen heart-ovate.—Peat-bogs, Maine and W. New Eng. to Minn. and Mo., and south in the mountains to N. C. July.—The most beautiful of the genus.

[*][*] Scape naked, 2-leaved at base, 1-flowered; sepals and petals greenish, shorter than the drooping lip, which has a closed fissure down its whole length in front.

6. C. acaùle, Ait. (Stemless L.) Downy; leaves oblong; scape 8–12´ high, with a green bract at top; sepals oblong-lanceolate, pointed, nearly as long as the linear petals; lip obovoid or oblong, rose-purple (rarely white), nearly 2´ long, veiny; sterile stamen rhomboid.—Dry or moist woods; Newf. to N. C., west to N. Ind., Mich., and Minn. May, June.

Order 111. BROMELIÀCEÆ. (Pine-apple Family.)

Herbs (or scarcely woody plants, nearly all tropical), the greater part epiphytes, with persistent dry or fleshy and channelled crowded leaves, sheathing at the base, usually covered with scurf; 6-androus; the 6-cleft perianth adherent to the ovary in the Pine-apple, etc., or free from it in

1. TILLÁNDSIA, L. Long Moss.

Perianth plainly double, 6-parted; the 3 outer divisions (sepals) membranaceous; the 3 inner (petals) colored; all connivent below into a tube, spreading above, lanceolate. Stamens 6, hypogynous! or the alternate ones cohering with the base of the petals; anthers introrse. Ovary free; style thread-shaped; stigmas 3. Capsule cartilaginous, 3-celled, loculicidally 3-valved; the valves splitting into an inner and an outer layer. Seeds several or many in each cell, anatropous, club-shaped, pointed, raised on a long hairy-tufted stalk, like a coma. Embryo small, at the base of copious albumen.—Scurfy-leaved epiphytes. (Named for Prof. Tillands of Abo.)

1. T. usneoìdes, L. (Common Long Moss or Black Moss.) Stems thread-shaped, branching, pendulous; leaves thread-shaped; peduncle short, 1-flowered; flower yellow.—East Shore, Va., south to Fla., and westward; growing on the branches of trees, forming long hanging tufts.

Order 112. HÆMODORÀCEÆ. (Bloodwort Family.)

Herbs, with fibrous roots, usually equitant leaves, and perfect 3–6-androus regular flowers, which are woolly or scurfy outside; the tube of the 6-lobed perianth coherent with the whole surface, or with merely the lower part, of the 3-celled ovary.—Anthers introrse. Style single, sometimes 3-partible; the 3 stigmas alternate with the cells of the ovary. Capsule crowned or enclosed by the persistent perianth, 3-celled, loculicidal, 3–many-seeded. Embryo small, in hard or fleshy albumen. A small family; chiefly of the southern hemisphere.

[*] Ovary wholly adherent to the calyx-tube; style filiform; seeds peltate, amphitropous.

1. Lachnanthes. Stamens 3, exserted; anthers versatile. Leaves equitant.

[*][*] Ovary free except at the base; style 3-partible; seeds anatropous.

2. Lophiola. Stamens 6, on the base of the woolly 6-cleft perianth. Leaves equitant.

3. Aletris. Stamens 6, in the throat of the warty-roughened and tubular 6-toothed perianth. Leaves flat, spreading.

1. LACHNÁNTHES, L. Red-root.

Perianth woolly outside, 6-parted down to the adherent ovary. Stamens 3, opposite the 3 larger or inner divisions; filaments long, exserted; anthers linear, fixed by the middle. Style thread-like, exserted, declined. Capsule globular. Seeds few on each fleshy placenta, flat and rounded, fixed by the middle.—Herb, with a red fibrous perennial root, equitant sword-shaped leaves, clustered at the base and scattered on the stem, which is hairy at the top and terminated by a dense compound cyme of dingy yellow and loosely woolly flowers (whence the name, from λάχνη, wool, and ἄνθος, blossom).

1. L. tinctòria, Ell.—Sandy swamps, near the coast, S. E. Mass., R. I., and N. J. to Fla. July–Sept.

2. LOPHÌOLA, Ker.

Perianth densely woolly, deeply 6-cleft; the divisions nearly equal, spreading, longer than the 6 stamens, which are inserted at their base. Anthers fixed by the base. Capsule ovate, free from the perianth except at the base, pointed with the awl-shaped style, which finally splits into 3 divisions, one terminating each valve. Seeds numerous, oblong, ribbed, anatropous.—A slender perennial herb, with creeping rootstocks and fibrous roots, linear and nearly smooth equitant leaves; the stem leafless and whitened with soft matted wool toward the summit, as also the crowded or panicled cyme. Perianth dingy yellow inside; the lobes naked only toward the tip, each clothed with a woolly tuft near the base (whence the name, from λοφεῖον, a small crest).

1. L. aùrea, Ker.—Boggy pine-barrens, N. J. to Fla. June–Aug.

3. ÁLETRIS, L. Colic-root. Star-grass.

Perianth cylindrical, not woolly, but wrinkled and roughened outside by thickly-set points which look like scurfy mealiness, the tube cohering below with the base only of the ovary, 6-cleft at the summit. Stamens 6, inserted at the base of the lobes; filaments and anthers short, included. Style awl-shaped, 3-cleft at the apex; stigmas minutely 2-lobed. Capsule ovate, enclosed in the roughened perianth; the dehiscence, seeds, etc., nearly as in Lophiola.—Perennial and smooth stemless herbs, very bitter, with fibrous roots, and a spreading cluster of thin and flat lanceolate leaves; the small flowers in a wand-like spiked raceme, terminating a naked slender scape (2–3° high). Bracts awl-shaped, minute. (Ἀλετρίς, a female slave who grinds corn; the name applied to these plants in allusion to the apparent mealiness dusted over the blossoms.)

1. A. farinòsa, L. Flowers oblong-tubular, white; lobes lanceolate-oblong.—Grassy or sandy woods, Mass. to Fla., Ill., and Minn. July, Aug.

2. A. aùrea, Walt. Flowers bell-shaped, yellow (fewer and shorter); lobes short-ovate.—Barrens, N. J. to Fla. July.

Order 113. IRIDÀCEÆ. (Iris Family.)

Herbs, with equitant 2-ranked leaves, and regular or irregular perfect flowers; the divisions of the 6-cleft petal-like perianth convolute in the bud in 2 sets, the tube coherent with the 3-celled ovary, and 3 distinct or monadelphous stamens, alternate with the inner divisions of the perianth, with extrorse anthers.—Flowers from a spathe of 2 or more leaves or bracts, usually showy. Style single, usually 3-cleft; stigmas 3, opposite the cells of the ovary, or 6 by the parting of the style-branches. Capsule 3-celled, loculicidal, many-seeded. Seeds anatropous; embryo straight in fleshy albumen. Rootstocks, tubers, or corms mostly acrid.

[*] Branches of the style (or stigmas) opposite the anthers.

1. Iris. Outer divisions of the perianth recurved, the inner erect; stigmas petal-like.

[*][*] Branches of the style alternate with the anthers. Perianth regular.

2. Nemastylis. Stem from a coated bulb. Filaments united. Style-branches 2-cleft.

3. Belamcanda. Stems from a creeping rhizome. Filaments distinct. Stigmas dilated.

4. Sisyrinchium. Root fibrous. Filaments united. Stigmas thread-like.

1. ÌRIS, Tourn. Flower-de-Luce.

Perianth 6-cleft; the tube more or less prolonged beyond the ovary; the 3 outer divisions spreading or reflexed, the 3 inner smaller, erect. Stamens distinct; the oblong or linear anthers sheltered under the overarching petal-like stigmas (or rather branches of the style, bearing the true stigma in the form of a thin lip or plate under the apex); most of the style connate with the tube of the perianth. Capsule 3–6-angled, coriaceous. Seeds depressed-flattened, usually in 2 rows in each cell.—Perennials, with sword-shaped or grassy leaves, and large showy flowers; ours with creeping and more or less tuberous rootstocks. (Ἶρις, the rainbow, anciently applied to this genus on account of its bright and varied colors.)

[*] Stems leafy and rather tall (1–3° high), from thickened rootstocks, often branching; tube of the perianth shorter than the divisions, which are beardless and crestless, the erect inner ones (petals) much smaller than the outer.

[+] Flowers violet-blue, variegated with green, yellow or white, and purple-veined.

1. I. versícolor, L. (Larger Blue Flag.) Stem stout, angled on one side; leaves sword-shaped (¾´ wide); ovary obtusely triangular with the sides flat; flowers (2½–3´ long) short-peduncled, the funnel-form tube shorter than the ovary; capsule oblong, turgid, with rounded angles.—Wet places, Newf. to Fla., west to Minn. and Ark. May, June.

2. I. prismática, Pursh. (Slender Blue Flag.) Stem very slender, terete; leaves narrowly linear (2–3´´ wide); flowers slender-peduncled (1½–2´ long), the tube extremely short; ovary 3-angled, each side 2-grooved; capsule sharply triangular. (I. Virginica, Man.; not L.)—Marshes near the coast, Maine to N. C. June.

I. Caroliniàna, Watson, resembling n. 1, but with longer laxer and greener leaves, and the very large seeds in one row in each cell, probably occurs in S. Va.

(Addendum) 2^a. I. hexágona, Walt. Stems flexuous, often low and slender (1–3° high), leafy; leaves much exceeding the stem, 6–12´´ broad; flowers solitary and sessile in the axils, large, deep blue, variegated with yellow, purple, and white; tube ½´ long; segments about 3´ long, the inner narrow; capsule oblong-cylindric, 6-angled, 2´ long—Prairies, Ky. (Short) to W. Mo. (Bush), and on the coast from S. Car. southward.

[+][+] Flowers copper-colored or dull reddish-brown; petals widely spreading.

3. I. fúlva, Ker. Stem and leaves as n. 1; tube of the perianth cylindrical, as long as the 6-angled ovary; style-branches narrow. (I. cuprea, Pursh.)—Swamps, S. Ill. and Mo. to La. and Ga. May.

[*][*] Stems low (3–6´ high), from tufted and creeping slender (or here and there tuberous-thickened) rootstocks, 1–3-flowered; tube of the perianth long and slender; the violet-blue divisions nearly equal.

4. I. vérna, L. (Dwarf Iris.) Leaves linear, grass-like, rather glaucous; the thread-like tube of the perianth about the length of the divisions, which are oblong-obovate and on slender claws, the outer ones slightly hairy down the orange-yellow base, crestless; capsule obtusely triangular.—Wooded hillsides, Lancaster Co., Penn., to S. C., west to Ky. and Ala. April.—Flowers sometimes white with yellowish centre.

5. I. cristàta, Ait. (Crested Dwarf Iris.) Leaves lanceolate (3–5´ long when grown); those of the spathe ovate-lanceolate, shorter than the thread-like tube of the perianth, which is 2´ long and much longer than the light blue obovate short-clawed divisions, the outer ones crested but beardless; capsule sharply triangular.—In the mountains from Md. to N. C.; Trumbull Co., Ohio (Ingraham); knobs of S. Ind. May.—Flowers fragrant.

6. I. lacústris, Nutt. (Lake Dwarf Iris.) Tube of the perianth rather shorter than the divisions (yellowish, ½–¾´ long), dilated upward, not exceeding the spathe; otherwise as in the last, and too near it.—Gravelly shores of Lakes Huron and Michigan. May.

I. Pseudácorus, L., the Yellow Iris of European marshes, with very long linear leaves and bright yellow beardless flowers, is reported as having become established in Mass. and N. Y.

2. NEMÁSTYLIS, Nutt.

Perianth spreading, the segments similar and nearly equal. Filaments more or less united into a tube. Style short, its slender 2-parted branches alternate with the anthers and exserted between them; stigmas minute, terminal. Capsule oblong or ovate, truncate, dehiscent at the summit. Seeds globose or angled.—Stems terete, from coated bulbs, with few plicate leaves, and few fugacious flowers from 2-bracted spathes. (Name from νῆμα, a thread, and στυλίς, style, for the slender style-branches.)

1. N. geminiflòra, Nutt. Stem 1–2° high; spathes 2-flowered; perianth pale blue-purple, 1–2´ broad, the divisions oblong-obovate; capsule obovate, ½´ long.—E. Kan. to Tex.

3. BELAMCÁNDA, Adans. Blackberry-Lily.

Perianth 6-parted almost to the ovary; the divisions widely and equally spreading, all nearly alike, oblong with a narrowed base, naked. Stamens monadelphous only at base; anthers oblong. Style club-shaped, 3-cleft, the narrow divisions tipped with a small dilated stigma. Capsule pear-shaped; the valves at length falling away, leaving the central column covered with the globose black and fleshy-coated seeds, imitating a blackberry (whence the popular name).—Perennial, with rootstocks, foliage, etc., of an Iris; the branching stems (3–4° high) loosely many-flowered; the orange-yellow perianth mottled above with crimson-purple spots. (An East Indian name of the species.)

B. CHINÉNSIS, Adans. (Pardanthus Chinensis, Ker.)—Sparingly escaped from gardens, Md. to S. Ind. and Mo. (Adv. from China, etc.)

4. SISYRÍNCHIUM, L. Blue-eyed Grass.

Perianth 6-parted; the divisions alike, spreading. Stamens monadelphous to the top. Stigmas thread-like. Capsule globular, 3-angled. Seeds globular.—Low slender perennials, with fibrous roots, grassy or lanceolate leaves, mostly branching 2-edged or winged stems, and fugacious umbelled-clustered small flowers from a 2-leaved spathe. (A meaningless name, of Greek origin.)

1. S. angustifòlium, Mill. Scape (4–12´ high) winged or wingless, simple, the spathe solitary and terminal, its outer bract more or less elongated; flowers delicate blue, changing to purplish (rarely white), the divisions of the perianth more or less notched, bristle-pointed and ciliate; mature seeds globose, large (½´´ broad), faintly pitted or nearly smooth. (S. Bermudiana, var. mucronatum, Gray, excl. descr.)—Moist meadows, etc., among grass; common everywhere. June–Aug. (Addendum)—Sisyrinchium angustifolium. What appears to be a form of this species with pale yellow flowers is found near Independence, Mo. (Bush).

2. S. ánceps, Cav. Scape (6–18´ high) usually branching and bearing 2 or more peduncled spathes; seeds more ovate, much smaller, deeply pitted. (S. Bermudiana, var. anceps, Gray, excl. descr.)—Similar localities; common.

Order 114. AMARYLLIDÀCEÆ. (Amaryllis Family.)

Chiefly bulbous and scape-bearing herbs, not scurfy or woolly, with linear flat root-leaves, and regular (or nearly so) and perfect 6-androus flowers, the tube of the corolline 6-parted perianth coherent with the 3-celled ovary; the lobes imbricated in the bud.—Anthers introrse. Style single. Capsule 3-celled, several–many-seeded. Seeds anatropous or nearly so, with a straight embryo in the axis of fleshy albumen.—An order represented in our gardens by the Narcissus, Daffodil, Snowdrop, etc., but with very few indigenous representatives in this country. Bulbs acrid. Differs from Liliaceæ chiefly in the inferior ovary.

[*] Capsule 3-valved, loculicidal; anthers versatile; perianth funnel-shaped; glabrous.

1. Zephyranthes. Flower naked in the throat; the tube short or none. Bulbs coated.

2. Hymenocallis. Flower with a slender tube and narrow recurved lobes; a cup-shaped crown connecting the stamens. Bulbs coated.

3. Agave. Flower equally 6-cleft, persistent, no crown. Fleshy-leaved, not bulbous.

[*][*] Capsule indehiscent; anthers sagittate; villous.

4. Hypoxis. Perianth 6-parted nearly down to the ovary, persistent. Bulb solid.

1. ZEPHYRÁNTHES, Herb.

Perianth funnel-form, from a tubular base; the 6 divisions petal-like and similar, spreading above; the 6 stamens inserted in its naked throat; anthers versatile. Pod membranaceous, 3-lobed.—Leaves and low scape from a coated bulb. Flowers solitary from a scarious simple bract. (From ζέφυρος, a wind and ἄνθος, flower.)

1. Z. Atamásco, Herb. (Atamasco Lily.) Leaves bright green and shining, very narrow, channelled, the margins acute; scape 6–12´ high; peduncle short; spathe 2-cleft at the apex; perianth white and pink, 3´ long; stamens and style declined.—Penn. to Va. and Fla. June. (Addendum) (Amaryllis Atamasco, L.).

2. HYMENOCÁLLIS, Salisb.

Perianth with a long and slender tube, and an equal 6-parted limb; lobes long and narrow, recurved; the throat bearing a tubular or cup-shaped corolla-like delicate crown, which connects the bases of the 6 exserted stamens. Anthers linear, versatile. Capsule thin, 2–3-lobed; seeds usually 2 in each cell, basal, fleshy, often like bulblets.—Scapes and leaves from a coated bulb. Flowers white, fragrant, large and showy, sessile in an umbel-like head or cluster, subtended by 2 or more scarious bracts. (Name composed of ὑμήν, a membrane, and κάλλος, beauty.)

1. H. occidentàlis, Kunth. Leaves strap-shaped, glaucous, 1–1½° long, 9–18´´ broad; scape 3–6-flowered; bracts narrow, 2´ long; perianth-tube about 2½–4´ long, the linear segments scarcely shorter; the crown 12–15´´ long, tubular below, broadly funnel-form above, the margin deltoid and entire, or 2-toothed and erose, between the white filaments, which are twice longer; anthers yellow; style green.—Marshy banks of streams, S. Ill. to N. Ga. and Ala.—Apparently distinct from H. lacera, Salisb. (Pancratium rotatum, Ker.), of the southern coast.

3. AGÀVE, L. American Aloe.

Perianth tubular-funnel-form, persistent, 6-parted; the divisions nearly equal, narrow. Stamens 6; anthers linear, versatile. Capsule coriaceous, many-seeded. Seeds flattened.—Leaves thick and fleshy, often with cartilaginous or spiny teeth, clustered at the base of the many-flowered scape, from a thick fibrous-rooted crown. (Name from ἀγαυή, noble,—not inappropriate as applied to A. Americana, the Century-plant.)

1. A. Virgínica, L. (False Aloe.) Herbaceous; leaves entire or denticulate; scape 3–6° high; flowers scattered in a loose wand-like spike, greenish-yellow, fragrant, the perianth 9–12´´ long, its narrow tube twice longer than the erect lobes.—Dry or rocky banks, Md. and Va. to Fla., west to S. Ind., Mo., and Tex.

4. HYPÓXIS, L. Star-grass.

Perianth persistent, 6-parted, spreading; the 3 outer divisions a little herbaceous outside. Stamens 6; anthers sagittate, erect. Capsule crowned with the withered or closed perianth, not opening by valves. Seeds globular, with a crustaceous coat, ascending, imperfectly anatropous, the rhaphe not adherent quite down to the micropyle, the persistent seed-stalk thus forming a sort of lateral beak. Radicle inferior!—Stemless small herbs, with grassy and hairy linear leaves and slender few-flowered scapes, from a solid bulb. (An old name for a plant having sourish leaves, from ὕποξυς, sub-acid.)

1. H. erécta, L. Leaves linear, grass-like, longer than the umbellately 1–4-flowered scape; divisions of the perianth hairy and greenish outside, yellow within.—Meadows and open woods, N. Eng. to Fla., west to Minn., E. Kan., and Tex.

Order 115. DIOSCOREÀCEÆ. (Yam Family.)

Plants with twining stems from large tuberous roots or knotted rootstocks, and ribbed and netted-veined petioled leaves, small diœcious 6-androus and regular flowers, with the 6-cleft calyx-like perianth adherent in the fertile plant to the 3-celled ovary. Styles 3, distinct.—Ovules 1 or 2 in each cell, anatropous. Fruit usually a membranaceous 3-angled or winged capsule. Seeds with a minute embryo in hard albumen.

1. DIOSCORÈA, Plumier. Yam.

Flowers very small, in axillary panicles or racemes. Stamens 6, at the base of the divisions of the 6-parted perianth. Capsule 3-celled, 3-winged, loculicidally 3-valved by splitting through the winged angles. Seeds 1 or 2 in each cell, flat, with a membranaceous wing. (Dedicated to the Greek naturalist, Dioscorides.)

1. D. villòsa, L. (Wild Yam-root.) Herbaceous. Stems slender, from knotty and matted rootstocks, twining over bushes; leaves mostly alternate, sometimes nearly opposite or in fours, more or less downy beneath, heart-shaped, conspicuously pointed, 9–11-ribbed; flowers pale greenish-yellow, the sterile in drooping panicles, the fertile in drooping simple racemes; capsules 8–10´´ long.—Thickets, S. New Eng. to Fla., west to Minn., Kan., and Tex.

Order 116. LILIÀCEÆ. (Lily Family.)

Herbs, or rarely woody plants, with regular and symmetrical almost always 6-androus flowers; the perianth not glumaceous, free from the chiefly 3-celled ovary; the stamens one before each of its divisions or lobes (i.e. 6, in one instance 4), with 2-celled anthers; fruit a few–many-seeded pod or berry; the small embryo enclosed in copious albumen. Seeds anatropous or amphitropous (orthotropous in Smilax). Flowers not from a spathe, except in Allium; the outer and inner ranks of the perianth colored alike (or nearly so) and generally similar, except in Trillium.

Suborder I. Smilaceæ. Shrubby or rarely herbaceous, the petiole of the 3–9-nerved netted-veined leaves often tendril-bearing. Flowers (in ours) diœcious, in axillary umbels, small, with regular 6-parted deciduous perianth. Anthers apparently 1-celled. Stigmas 3, sessile. Fruit a 3-celled berry, with 1–2 pendulous orthotropous seeds in each cell. Embryo minute in horny albumen.

1. Smilax. Characters as above.

Suborder II. Liliaceæ proper. Never climbing by tendrils. Very rarely diœcious. Seeds anatropous or amphitropous.

Series A. Floral bracts scarious. Stamens perigynous on the usually withering-persistent nerved perianth; anthers introrse. Style undivided, mostly persistent. Fruit a loculicidal capsule or a berry. Leaves transversely veined.

[*] Scape from a coated bulb; fruit capsular; leaves linear.

[+] Flowers umbellate; segments 1-nerved; pedicels not jointed.

2. Allium. Perianth 6-parted. Capsule deeply lobed, often crested; cells 1–2-seeded. Very alliaceous.

3. Nothoscordum. Perianth 6-parted. Seeds several in each cell. Not alliaceous.

4. Androstephium. Perianth tubular-funnel form. Filaments in the throat, united into a crown.

[+][+] Flowers racemose, 6-parted, the segments 3–several-nerved.

5. Camassia. Flowers light blue, long racemose. Filaments filiform.

6. Ornithogalum. Flowers greenish white, sub-corymbose. Filaments dilated.

[+][+][+] Flowers densely racemose; perianth urn-shaped, 6-toothed.

7. Muscari. Flowers deep blue, small. Stamens included.

[*][*] Stem or scape not from a bulb, several-flowered; capsule many-seeded.

8. Hemerocallis. Scape from a fleshy-fibrous root. Flowers few, large, yellow, tubular-funnel-form; limb 6-parted. Stamens and long style declined. Seeds globose.

9. Yucca. Stem woody, leafy. Flowers white, campanulate, 6-parted. Stigmas sessile. Seeds flat.

[*][*][*] Leafy stems (scape in n. 10) from running rootstocks; fruit a berry; leaves cordate to lanceolate (except n. 12); flowers white; pedicels jointed.

[+] Perianth gamophyllous, 6-lobed.

10. Convallaria. Leaves sheathing the scape. Flowers racemose; perianth bell-shaped.

11. Polygonatum. Stem leafy. Flowers axillary; perianth cylindrical.

[+][+] Perianth-segments distinct, small, spreading, persistent.

12. Asparagus. Stems branching, the apparent leaves thread-like. Flowers axillary.

13. Smilacina. Stem simple, leafy. Flowers 6-parted, racemose or paniculate.

14. Maianthemum. Stem low, 2-leaved. Flowers 4-merous, racemose.

Series B. Floral bracts none or foliaceous. Stamens hypogynous or at the base of the distinct segments of the deciduous perianth (persistent in n. 23); anthers extrorse or dehiscent laterally. Style undivided, deciduous (stigmas sessile and persistent in n. 23). Fruit a loculicidal capsule or a berry. Veinlets anastomosing (transverse in n. 15, 17–19).

[*] Fruit a berry; stem or scape from a creeping rootstock; leaves broad, alternate or radical; flowers narrowly campanulate.

15. Streptopus. Stem leafy. Flowers axillary, on bent pedicels. Anthers sagittate, acute; filaments deltoid or subulate.

16. Disporum. Stem leafy. Flowers few, in terminal umbels. Anthers oblong, obtuse; filaments slender. Veinlets anastomosing.

17. Clintonia. Flowers umbellate on a scape, few or many.

[*][*] Fruit a capsule.

[+] Stems leafy, from a short or creeping rootstock; flowers few, solitary, pendulous; capsule few-seeded.

18. Uvularia. Stem terete. Leaves perfoliate. Flowers terminal. Capsule truncate, 3-lobed.

19. Oakesia. Stem angled. Leaves sessile. Flowers opposite the leaves. Capsule acutely 3-winged.

[+][+] Stem or scape from a bulb or corm; capsule many-seeded.

20. Erythronium. Scape from a solid bulb, with a pair of leaves. Flower solitary. Seeds angled, obovoid.

21. Lilium. Stem leafy from a scaly bulb. Seeds horizontal, flattened.

[*][*][*] Fruit a berry; stem from a tuber-like rootstock, bearing 1 or 2 whorls of leaves; flowers terminal; stigmas sessile.

22. Medeola. Leaves in 2 whorls. Flowers umbellate. Perianth-segments similar, colored, deciduous.

23. Trillium. Leaves (3) in a terminal whorl. Flower solitary; outer sepals leaf-like, persistent.

Series C. Floral bracts green or greenish (rarely scarious), or none. Stamens at the base of the distinct 1–several-nerved persistent perianth-segments; anthers small, versatile. Styles or sessile stigmas distinct. Capsule mostly septicidal. Seeds with a loose testa or appendaged. Leaves with transverse veinlets (except in n. 24 and 25).

[*] Stems leafy or bracteate, from a thick tuberous rootstock; flowers racemose; anthers 2-celled; stigmas linear.

24. Helonias. Leaves radical, oblanceolate. Flowers perfect. Capsule broadly obovate, many-seeded.

25. Chamælirium. Stem very leafy. Flowers diœcious. Capsule oblong, many-seeded.

26. Xerophyllum. Stem very leafy; leaves very narrow. Flowers perfect. Capsule few-seeded.

[*][*] Stems distichously equitant-leafy, from a creeping rootstock; flowers on bracteolate pedicels, racemose; anthers 2-celled; stigmas small, terminal; seeds often appendaged.

27. Tofieldia. Bractlets 3, verticillate. Styles short. Seeds horizontal.

28. Narthecium. Bractlet linear. Stigma slightly lobed. Seeds ascending.

[*][*][*] Anthers heart- or kidney-shaped, confluently 1-celled and peltate after opening; stigmas terminal; capsule 3-beaked by the persistent styles; seeds angled or flattened and margined.

[+] Stems tall, leafy, from a thick rootstock, pubescent above; flowers polygamous, racemose-paniculate; seeds flat, winged.

29. Melanthium. Sepals free from the ovary, their long claws bearing the filaments.

30. Veratrum. Sepals without claws, slightly adnate to the ovary. Leaves strongly nerved and plicate.

[+][+] Root mostly bulbous; glabrous; flowers racemose or panicled; seeds narrow, angled; leaves linear.

31. Stenanthium. Sepals lanceolate, acuminate, without glands.

32. Zygadenus. Sepals oblong to ovate, glandular toward the base.

33. Amianthium. Flowers in a dense raceme. Sepals ovate-oblong, glandless, free from the ovary. Cells of the capsule widely divergent, 1–2-seeded.

1. SMÌLAX, Tourn. Greenbrier. Cat-brier.

Flowers diœcious in umbels or axillary peduncles, small, greenish or yellowish, regular, the perianth-segments distinct, deciduous. Filaments linear, inserted on the very base, the introrse anthers linear or oblong, fixed by the base, apparently 1-celled. Ovary of fertile flowers 3-celled (1-celled, with single stigma, in n. 11); stigmas thick and spreading, almost sessile; ovules 1 or 2 in each cell, pendulous, orthtropous; fruit a small berry.—Shrubby or rarely herbaceous, usually climbing or supported by a pair of tendrils on the petiole of the ribbed and netted-veined simple leaves. (The ancient Greek name, of obscure meaning.)

§ 1. Stems herbaceous, not prickly; flowers carrion-scented; ovules 2 in each cell; leaves membranous, mucronate-tipped; berries bluish-black with a bloom.

1. S. herbàcea, L. (Carrion-Flower.) Stem climbing, 3–15° high; leaves ovate or rounded, mostly heart-shaped or truncate at base, abruptly acute to short-acuminate, 7–9-nerved, smooth; petioles ½–1´ long; peduncles elongated (3–4´ long, or sometimes even 6–8´ and much longer than the leaves), 20–40-flowered; seeds 6.—Moist meadows and river-banks; common, from the Atlantic to Minn., Mo., and Tex. June. Very variable.—Var. puberulénta, Gray, has the leaves more or less soft-downy beneath.

2. S. tamnifòlia, Michx. Stem upright or climbing; leaves mostly 5-nerved, smooth, broadly ovate to lanceolate, truncate or cordate at base, abruptly acute to acuminate, some of them hastate with broad rounded lobes; peduncles longer than the petioles; berry smaller, 2–3-seeded.—Pine-barrens, N. J. to S. C.

3. S. ecirrhàta, Watson. Erect, ½–3° high, without tendrils (or only the uppermost petioles tendril-bearing), glabrous; lower leaves reduced to narrow scale-like bracts, the rest thin, 5–7-nerved, broadly ovate-elliptical to roundish, acute, mostly cordate at base, 2–5´ long, sometimes verticillate, sparsely pubescent beneath; peduncles about equalling the petioles (1–2½´ long), on the lower part of the stem; umbels 10–20-flowered; berry 3-seeded.—Md. to S. C., west to Mich. and Mo. May, June.

§ 2. Stems woody, often prickly; ovules solitary; glabrous throughout.

[*] Leaves ovate or roundish, etc., most of them rounded or heart-shaped at base, and 5–9-nerved, the three middle nerves or ribs stronger and more conspicuous.

[+] Peduncles shorter or scarcely longer than the petioles (2–6´´), flattened; leaves thickish, green both sides.

4. S. Wálteri, Pursh. Stem low, somewhat angled, prickly near the base or unarmed; leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate or oblong, somewhat heart-shaped or rounded at base (3–4´ long); berries coral-red.—Pine barrens, N. J. to Fla.

5. S. rotundifòlia, L. (Common Greenbrier. Horse-brier.) Stem armed with scattered prickles, as well as the terete branches; branchlets more or less 4-angular; leaves ovate or round-ovate, often broader than long, slightly heart-shaped, abruptly short-pointed (2–3´ long); berries blue-black, with a bloom.—Moist thickets, N. Eng. to Ga., west to Minn. and Tex. Very variable, passing into var. quadrangulàris, Gray, which has branches, and especially branchlets, 4-angular, and is more common west.

[+][+] Peduncle longer than but seldom twice the length of the short petiole, flattened; leaves tardily deciduous or partly persistent; berries black, with a bloom.

6. S. glaùca, Walt. Terete branches and somewhat 4-angular branchlets armed with scattered stout prickles, or naked; leaves ovate, rarely subcordate, glaucous beneath and sometimes also above, as well as the branchlets when young (about 2´ long), abruptly mucronate, the edges smooth and naked.—Dry thickets, E. Mass. to Fla., west to S. Ind., Mo., and Tex.

7. S. bòna-nox, L. Branches and the angular (often square) branchlets sparsely armed with short rigid prickles; leaves varying from round-heart-shaped and slightly contracted above the dilated base to fiddle-shaped and halberd-shaped or 3-lobed, green and shining both sides, cuspidate-pointed, the margins often somewhat bristly-ciliate or spinulose. (S. tamnoides, Man.; probably not L.)—Thickets; Nantucket, Mass. (L. L. Dame); N. J. to Fla., west to Ill., Mo., and Tex.

[+][+][+] Peduncle 2–4 times the length of the petiole; leaves ample (3–5´ long), thin or thinnish, green both sides; berries black; stem terete and branchlets nearly so.

8. S. híspida, Muhl. Rootstock cylindrical, elongated; stem (climbing high) below densely beset with long and weak blackish bristly prickles, the flowering branchlets mostly naked; leaves ovate and the larger heart-shaped, pointed, slightly rough-margined, membranaceous and deciduous; peduncles 1½–2´ long; sepals lanceolate, almost 3´´ long.—Moist thickets, Conn. to Va., west to Minn. and Tex. June.

9. S. Pseùdo-Chìna, L. Rootstock tuberous; stems and branches unarmed, or with very few weak prickles; leaves ovate-heart-shaped, or on the branchlets ovate-oblong, cuspidate-pointed, often rough-ciliate, becoming firm in texture; peduncles flat (2–3´ long).—Dry or sandy soil, N. J. to Fla., west to S. Ind. and Mo. July.

[*][*] Leaves varying from oblong-lanceolate to linear, narrowed at base into a short petiole, 3–5-nerved, shining above, paler or glaucous beneath, many without tendrils; peduncles short, seldom exceeding the petioles, terete; the umbels sometimes panicled; branches terete, unarmed.

10. S. lanceolàta, L. Leaves thinnish, rather deciduous, ovate-lanceolate or lance-oblong; stigmas 3; berries dull red.—Rich woods and margins of swamps, Va. to Fla., west to Ark. and Tex. June.

11. S. laurifòlia, L. Leaves thick and coriaceous, evergreen, varying from oblong-lanceolate to linear (2½–5´ long); stigmas solitary and ovary 1-celled; berries black when ripe, 1-seeded, maturing in the second year.—Pine-barrens, N. J. to Fla., west to Ark. and La. July, Aug.

2. ÁLLIUM, L. Onion. Garlic.

Perianth of 6 entirely colored sepals, which are distinct, or united at the very base, 1-nerved, often becoming dry and scarious and more or less persistent; the 6 filaments awl-shaped or dilated at base. Style persistent, but jointed upon the very short axis of the ovary, thread-like; stigma simple. Capsule lobed, loculicidal, 3-valved, with 1–2 ovoid-kidney-shaped amphitropous or campylotropous black seeds in each cell.—Strong-scented and pungent stemless herbs; the leaves and scape from a coated bulb; flowers in a simple umbel, some of them frequently changed to bulblets; spathe scarious, 1–2-valved. (The ancient Latin name of the Garlic.)

§ 1. Bulbs cespitose, narrowly oblong and crowning a rhizome; coats membranous.

[*] Leaves (2 or 3) elliptic-lanceolate; ovules solitary in each cell.

1. A. tricóccum, Ait. (Wild Leek.) Scape naked (4–12´ high from clustered pointed bulbs, 2´ long), bearing an erect many-flowered umbel; leaves 5–9´ long, 1–2´ wide; sepals oblong (greenish white), equalling the nearly distinct filaments; capsule strongly 3-lobed.—Rich woods, W. N. Eng. to Minn. and Iowa, south in the mountains to N. C. Leaves appearing in early spring and dying before the flowers are developed.

[*][*] Leaves linear; ovules a pair in each cell.

2. A. Schœnóprasum, L. (Chives.) Scape naked or leafy at base (6–12´ high), bearing a globular capitate umbel of many rose-purple flowers; sepals lanceolate, pointed, longer than the simple downwardly dilated filaments; leaves awl-shaped, hollow; capsule not crested.—From N. Brunswick and the Great Lakes to the Pacific. (Eu., Asia.)

3. A. cérnuum, Roth. (Wild Onion.) Scape naked, angular (½–2° high), nodding at the apex, bearing a loose or drooping few–many-flowered umbel; leaves linear, flattened, sharply keeled (1° long); sepals oblong-ovate, acute (rose-color), shorter than the slender filaments and style; capsule 6-crested.—In the Alleghanies to S. C., west to Minn., Mo., Tex., and westward.

§ 2. Bulbs mostly solitary, not rhizomatous; coats often fibrous; leaves narrowly linear, flat or channelled (terete in A. vineale).

4. A. stellàtum, Nutt. Scape terete (6–18´ high), slender, bearing an erect umbel; bulb-coats membranous; sepals broad, acute; stamens and style exserted; capsule prominently 6-crested.—Rocky slopes, Minn. to W. Ill. and Mo., and westward.

5. A. reticulàtum, Fraser. Scape 3–8´ high; bulbs densely and coarsely fibrous-coated; spathe 2-valved; umbel rarely bulbiferous; sepals ovate- to narrowly lanceolate, thin and lax in fruit, a third longer than the stamens; capsule crested.—Sask. to Iowa and N. Mex.

6. A. Nuttállii, Watson. Scape 4–6° high, from a very fibrous-coated bulb; spathe usually 3-valved; sepals usually broader, rather rigid in fruit; capsule not crested.—Central Kan. to Tex., and westward.

7. A. Canadénse, Kalm. (Wild Garlic.) Scape 1° high or more; bulb-coats somewhat fibrous; umbel densely bulbiferous or few-flowered; sepals narrowly lanceolate, obtusish, equalling or exceeding the stamens; capsule not crested.—Moist meadows, N. Eng. to Minn., south to the Gulf. May, June.

A. vineàle, L. (Field Garlic.) Scape slender, clothed with the sheathing bases of the leaves below the middle (1–3° high); leaves terete and hollow, slender, channelled above; umbel often densely bulbiferous; filaments much dilated, the alternate ones cuspidate on each side of the anther.—Moist meadows and fields; a vile weed eastward. June. (Nat. from Eu.)

3. NOTHÓSCORDUM, Kunth.

Flowers greenish or yellowish white. Capsule oblong-obovate, somewhat lobed, obtuse, with the style obscurely jointed on the summit; cells several-ovuled and -seeded. Filaments filiform, distinct, adnate at base. Bulb tunicated, not alliaceous. Otherwise as in Allium. (Name from νόθος, false, and σκόρδιον, garlic.)

1. N. striàtum, Kunth. Scape 1° high or less; bulb small, often bulbiferous at base; leaves narrowly linear; flowers few, on slender pedicels, the segments narrowly oblong, 4–6´´ long; ovules 4–7 in each cell. (Allium striatum, Jacq.)—Prairies and open woods, Va. to Ind., Neb., and southward.

4. ANDROSTÉPHIUM, Torr.

Perianth funnel-form, the cylindrical tube equalling the somewhat spreading limb or shorter; segments 1-nerved. Stamens 6, in one row upon the throat; the filaments united to form an erect tubular crown, with bifid lobes alternate with the oblong versatile anthers. Capsule sessile, subglobose-triquetrous, beaked by the stout persistent style; seeds large, few to several in each cell.—Scape and linear leaves from a membranous- or fibrous-coated corm; pale lilac flowers umbellate; pedicels not jointed; involucral bracts several. (Name from ἀνήρ, for stamen, and στέφος, crown, referring to the stamineal crown.)

1. A. violàceum, Torr. Scape 2–6´ high; flowers 8–12´´ long or more, usually exceeding the stout pedicels, the tube nearly as long as the limb; crown scarcely shorter than the limb.—Kan. to Tex.

5. CAMÁSSIA, Lindl.

Perianth of 6 colored (blue or purple) spreading sepals, 3–7-nerved, slightly irregular, mostly deciduous; the 6 filiform filaments at their base. Style thread-like, the base persistent. Capsule oblong or obovate, 3-angled, loculicidal, 3-valved, with several black roundish seeds in each cell.—Scape and linear leaves from a coated bulb; the flowers in a simple raceme, mostly bracted, on jointed pedicels. (From the native Indian name quamash or camass.)

1. C. Fràseri, Torr. (Eastern Camass. Wild Hyacinth.) Scape 1° high or more; leaves keeled; raceme elongated; bracts longer than the pedicels; sepals pale blue, 3-nerved, 4–7´´ long; capsule acutely triangular-globose. (Scilla Fraseri, Gray.)—Rich ground, W. Penn. to Minn. and E. Kan., and in the mountains to Ga.

6. ORNITHÓGALUM, Tourn. Star-of-Bethlehem.

Perianth of 6 colored (white) spreading 3–7-nerved sepals. Filaments 6, flattened-awl-shaped. Style 3-sided; stigma 3-angled. Capsule membranous, roundish-angular, with few dark and roundish seeds in each cell, loculicidal.—Scape and linear channelled leaves from a coated bulb. Flowers corymbed, bracted; pedicels not jointed. (An ancient whimsical name from ὄρνις, a bird, and γάλα, milk.)

O. umbellàtum, L. Scape 4–9´ high; flowers 5–8, on long and spreading pedicels; sepals green in the middle on the outside.—Escaped from gardens. (Nat. from Eu.)

O. nùtans, L. Scape 1° high or more; flowers 5 or 6, large (1´ long), nodding on very short pedicels; filaments very broad.—Rarely escaped from gardens; Penn. (Adv. from Eu.)

7. MUSCÀRI, Tourn. Grape-Hyacinth.

Perianth globular or ovoid, minutely 6-toothed (blue). Stamens 6, included; anthers short, introrse. Style short. Capsule loculicidal, with 2 black angular seeds in each cell.—Leaves and scape (in early spring) from a coated bulb; the small flowers in a dense raceme, sometimes musk-scented (whence the name).

M. botryoìdes, Mill. Leaves linear, 3–4´´ broad; flowers globular (1–1½´´ long), deep blue, appearing like minute grapes.—Escaped from gardens into copses and fence-rows. (Adv. from Eu.)

M. racemòsum, Mill. Leaves 1–1½´´ broad; flowers oblong-urceolate, 2–2½´´ long, deep blue, fragrant.—Rare escape, Md. and Penn. (Adv. from Eu.)

8. HEMEROCÁLLIS, L. Day-Lily.

Perianth funnel-form, lily-like; the short tube enclosing the ovary, the spreading limb 6-parted; the 6 stamens inserted on its throat. Anthers as in Lilium, but introrse. Filaments and style long and thread-like, declined and ascending; stigma simple. Capsule (at first rather fleshy) 3-angled, loculicidally 3-valved, with several black spherical seeds in each cell.—Showy perennials, with fleshy-fibrous roots; the long and linear keeled leaves 2-ranked at the base of the tall scapes, which bear at the summit several bracted and large yellow flowers; these collapse and decay after expanding for a single day (whence the name, from ἡμέρα, a day, and κάλλος, beauty.)

H. fúlva, L. (Common Day-Lily.) Inner divisions (petals) of the tawny orange perianth wavy and obtuse.—Roadsides, escaped from gardens (Adv. from Eu.)

9. YÚCCA, L. Bear-Grass. Spanish Bayonet.

Perianth of 6 petal-like (white or greenish) oval or oblong and acute flat sepals, withering-persistent, the 3 inner broader, longer than the 6 stamens. Stigmas 3, sessile. Capsule oblong, somewhat 6-sided, 3-celled, or imperfectly 6-celled by a partition from the back, fleshy, at length loculicidally 3-valved from the apex. Seeds very many in each cell, flattened.—Stems woody, either very short or rising into thick and columnar palm-like trunks, bearing persistent rigid linear or sword-shaped leaves, and an often ample compound panicle or branched raceme of showy flowers. (The native Haytian name for the root of the Cassava-plant.)

1. Y. angustifòlia, Pursh. Caudex none or very short; leaves straight very stiff and pungent, ½–2° long by 1–6´´ wide, filiferous on the margin; raceme mostly simple, nearly sessile (1–4° long); flowers 1½–2½´ wide; stigmas green, shorter than the ovary; capsule 6-sided (3´ long); seeds 5–6´´ broad.—Dak. to Iowa, Kan., and N. Mex. May, June.

2. Y. filamentòsa, L. (Adam's Needle.) Caudex 1° high or less, from a running rootstock; leaves numerous, coriaceous, more or less tapering to a short point, rough on the back, 1½–2° long by 1–3´ wide, filiferous on the margin; panicle pyramidal, densely flowered, on a stout bracteate scape, 4–9° high; flowers large; stigmas pale, elongated; capsule 1½´ long; seeds 3´´ broad.—Near the coast, Md. to Fla. and La. July. Very variable.

10. CONVALLÀRIA, L. Lily of the Valley.

Perianth bell-shaped (white), 6-lobed, deciduous; the lobes recurved. Stamens 6, included, inserted on the base of the perianth; anthers introrse. Ovary 3-celled, tapering into a stout style; stigma triangular. Ovules 4–6 in each cell. Berry few-seeded (red).—A low perennial herb, glabrous, stemless, with slender running rootstocks, sending up from a scaly-sheathing bud 2 oblong leaves, with their long sheathing petioles enrolled one within the other so as to appear like a stalk, and an angled scape bearing a one-sided raceme of pretty and sweet-scented nodding flowers. (Altered from Lilium convallium, the popular name.)

1. C. majàlis, L.—High mountains of Va. to S. C. Apparently identical with the European Lily of the Valley of the gardens.

11. POLYGONÀTUM, Tourn. Solomon's Seal.

Perianth cylindrical-oblong, 6-lobed at the summit; the 6 stamens inserted on or above the middle of the tube, included; anthers introrse. Ovary 3-celled. with 2–6 ovules in each cell; style slender, deciduous by a joint; stigma obtuse or capitate, obscurely 3-lobed. Berry globular, black or blue; the cells 1–2-seeded.—Perennial herbs, with simple erect or curving stems, from creeping thick and knotted rootstocks, naked below, above bearing nearly sessile or half-clasping nerved leaves, and axillary nodding greenish flowers; pedicels jointed near the flower. (The ancient name, composed of πολύς, many, and γόνυ, knee, alluding to the numerous joints of the rootstock and stem.)—Ours are alternate-leaved species, the stem terete or scarcely angled when fresh.

1. P. biflòrum, Ell. (Smaller Solomon's Seal.) Glabrous, except the ovate-oblong or lance-oblong nearly sessile leaves, which are commonly minutely pubescent as well as pale or glaucous underneath; stem slender (1–3° high); peduncles 1–3- but mostly 2-flowered; perianth 4–6´´ long; filaments papillose-roughened, inserted toward the summit of the perianth.—Wooded hillsides, N. Brunswick to Fla., west to Minn., E. Kan., and Tex.

2. P. gigantèum, Dietrich. (Great S.) Glabrous throughout; stem stout and mostly tall (2–7° high), terete; leaves ovate, partly clasping (3–8´ long), or the upper oblong and nearly sessile, many-nerved; peduncles several-(2–8-) flowered, jointed below the flower; flowers 5–9´´ long; filaments smooth and naked, or nearly so, inserted on the middle of the tube.—Meadows and river-banks, N. Eng. to Va., west to the Rocky Mts. June.

12. ASPÁRAGUS, Tourn. Asparagus.

Perianth 6-parted, spreading above; the 6 stamens on its base; anthers introrse. Style short; stigma 3-lobed. Berry spherical, 3-celled; the cells 2-seeded.—Perennials, with much-branched stems from thick and matted rootstocks, and small greenish-yellow axillary flowers on jointed pedicels. The narrow, commonly thread-like, so-called leaves are really branchlets, acting as leaves, clustered in the axils of little scales which are the true leaves. (The ancient Greek name.)

A. officinàlis, L. (Garden Asparagus.) Herbaceous, tall, bushy-branched; leaves thread-like.—A frequent escape from gardens. June. (Adv. from Eu.)

13. SMILACÌNA, Desf. False Solomon's Seal.

Perianth 6-parted, spreading, withering-persistent (white). Stamens 6, inserted at the base of the divisions; filaments slender, anthers short, introrse. Ovary 3-celled, with 2 ovules in each cell; style short and thick, stigma obscurely 3-lobed. Berry globular, 1–2-seeded.—Perennial herbs, with simple stems from creeping or thickish rootstocks, alternate nerved mostly sessile leaves, and white, sometimes fragrant flowers in a terminal and simple or compound raceme. (Name a diminutive of Smilax, to which, however, these plants bear little resemblance.)

[*] Flowers on very short pedicels in a terminal racemose panicle; stamens exceeding the small (1´´ long) segments; ovules collateral; rootstock stout, fleshy.

1. S. racemòsa, Desf. (False Spikenard.) Minutely downy (1–3° high); leaves numerous, oblong or oval-lanceolate, taper-pointed, ciliate, abruptly somewhat petioled; berries pale red, speckled with purple, aromatic.—Moist copses, N. Brunswick to S. C., west to Minn., E. Kan. and Ark.

[*][*] Flowers larger (2–3´´ long), on solitary pedicels in a simple few-flowered raceme; stamens included; ovules not collateral; rootstock rather slender.

2. S. stellàta, Desf. Plant (1° high or less) nearly glabrous, or the 7–12 oblong-lanceolate leaves minutely downy beneath when young, slightly clasping; raceme sessile or nearly so; berries blackish.—Moist banks, Lab. to N. J., west to E. Kan., Minn., and westward. (Eu.)

3. S. trifòlia, Desf. Glabrous, dwarf (2–6´ high); leaves 3 (sometimes 2 or 4), oblong, tapering to a sheathing base; raceme peduncled; berries red.—Cold bogs, Lab. to N. Eng., west to Mich. and Min. (Sib.)

14. MAIÁNTHEMUM, Wigg.

Perianth 4-parted, with as many stamens. Ovary 2-celled; stigma 2-lobed. Otherwise as in Smilacina.—Flowers solitary or fascicled, in a simple raceme upon a low 2–3-leaved stem. Leaves ovate- to lanceolate-cordate. (Name from Maius, May, and ἄνθεμον, a flower.)

1. M. Canadénse, Desf. Pubescent or glabrous (3–5´ high); leaves lanceolate to ovate, cordate at base with a very narrow sinus, sessile or very shortly petioled; perianth-segments 1´´ long. (Smilacina bifolia, var. Canadensis, Gray.)—Moist woods, Lab. to N. C., west to Minn. and Iowa. May.

15. STRÉPTOPUS, Michx. Twisted-Stalk.

Perianth recurved-spreading from a bell-shaped base, deciduous; the 6 distinct sepals lanceolate, acute, the 3 inner keeled. Anthers arrow-shaped, extrorse, fixed near the base to the short flattened filaments, tapering above to a slender entire or 2-cleft point. Ovary with many ovules in each cell; style and sometimes the stigmas one. Berry red, roundish-ovoid, many-seeded.—Herbs, with rather stout stems from a creeping rootstock, forking and divergent branches, ovate and taper-pointed rounded-clasping membranaceous leaves, and small (extra-) axillary flowers, either solitary or in pairs, on slender thread-like peduncles, which are abruptly bent or contorted near the middle (whence the name, from στρεπτός, twisted, and ποῦς, foot or stalk).

1. S. amplexifòlius, DC. Stem 2–3° high, glabrous; leaves very smooth, glaucous underneath, strongly clasping; flower greenish-white (4–6´´ long) on a long abruptly bent peduncle; anthers tapering to a slender entire point; stigma entire, truncate.—Cold moist woods, N. Eng. to N. Minn., south to Ohio, Penn., and in the mountains to N. C. June. (Eu.)

2. S. ròseus, Michx. Lower leaves green both sides, finely ciliate, and the branches sparingly beset with short bristly hairs; flower rose-purple (3–4´´ long), more than half the length of the slightly bent peduncle; anthers 2-horned; stigma 3-cleft.—Cold damp woods, N. Eng. to N. Minn., and south in the mountains to Ga. May.

16. DÍSPORUM, Salisb.

Perianth narrowly bell-shaped, the 6 sepals lanceolate or linear, deciduous. Filaments thread-like, much longer than the linear-oblong blunt anthers, which are fixed by a point above the base and extrorse. Ovary with 2 ovules (in our species) suspended from the summit of each cell; style one; stigmas short, recurved-spreading, or sometimes united into one! Berry ovoid or oblong, pointed, 3–6-seeded, red.—Downy low herbs, with creeping rootstocks, erect stems sparingly branched above, with closely sessile ovate thin and transversely veined leaves, and greenish-yellow drooping flowers, on slender terminal peduncles, solitary or few in an umbel. (Name from δίς, double, and σπορά, seed, in allusion to the 2 ovules in each cell.)

1. D. lanuginòsum, Benth. & Hook. Leaves ovate-oblong, taper-pointed, rounded or slightly heart-shaped at base, closely sessile, downy beneath; flowers solitary, [or] in pairs; sepals linear-lanceolate, taper-pointed (½´ long), soon spreading, twice the length of the stamens, greenish; style smooth; stigmas 3. (Prosartes lanuginosa, Don.)—Rich woods, western N. Y. to Va. and Ga., west to Ky. and Tenn. May.

17. CLINTÒNIA, Raf.

Perianth of 6 separate sepals, bell-shaped, lily-like, deciduous; the 6 stamens inserted at their base. Filaments long and thread-like; anthers linear or oblong, extrorsely fixed by a point above the base, the cells opening down the margins. Ovary ovoid-oblong, 2–3-celled; style long; stigmas 2 or 3, or in ours united into one. Berry few–many-seeded.—Short-stemmed perennials, with slender creeping rootstocks, bearing a naked peduncle sheathed at the base by the stalks of 2–4 large oblong or oval ciliate leaves; flowers rather large, umbelled, rarely single. (Dedicated to De Witt Clinton.)

1. C. boreàlis, Raf. Scape and leaves 5–8´ long; umbel 3–6-flowered; perianth greenish-yellow, somewhat downy outside (3–4´´ long); berry ovoid, blue; ovules 20 or more.—Cold moist woods, Lab. to N. C., west to Minn.

2. C. umbellàta, Torr. Flowers half the size of the last, white, speckled with green or purplish dots; umbel many-flowered; berry globular, black; ovules 2 in each cell.—Rich woods, in the Alleghanies from N. Y. to Ga.

18. UVULÀRIA, L. Bellwort.

Perianth narrowly bell-shaped, lily-like, deciduous; the 6 distinct sepals spatulate-lanceolate, acuminate, obtusely gibbous at base, with a deep honey-bearing groove within bordered on each side by a callus-like ridge. Stamens much shorter, barely adherent to their base; anthers linear, much longer than the filaments, adnate and extrorse, but the long narrow cells opening laterally. Style deeply 3-cleft; the divisions stigmatic along the inner side. Capsule truncate, coriaceous, 3-lobed, loculicidal at the summit. Seeds few in each cell, obovoid, with a thin white aril.—Stems rather low, terete, from a short rootstock with fleshy roots, naked or scaly at base, forking above, bearing oblong perfoliate flat and membranaceous leaves with smooth margins, and yellowish drooping flowers, in spring, solitary on terminal peduncles. (Name "from the flowers hanging like the uvula, or palate.")

1. U. perfoliàta, L. Glaucous throughout, ½–1½° high, with 1–3 leaves below the fork; leaves glabrous, oblong- to ovate-lanceolate, acute; perianth-segments granular-pubescent within (8–16´´ long); stamens shorter than the styles; tip of the connective acuminate; cells of the capsule with 2 dorsal ridges and 2-beaked at the apex.—Rich woods, N. Eng. to Dak., and southward.

2. U. grandiflòra, Smith. Yellowish-green, not glaucous; stem naked or with a single leaf below the fork; leaves whitish-pubescent beneath, usually somewhat acuminate; perianth-segments smooth within or nearly so (12–18´´ long); stamens exceeding the styles, obtusely tipped; capsule obtusely lobed. (U. flava, Smith.)—Rich woods, Canada to Ga., west to Minn. and Mo.

19. OAKÈSIA, Watson.

Flowers resembling those of Uvularia, but the segments obtuse or acutish, carinately gibbous and without ridges within. Capsule membranous, elliptical, acutish at each end or shortly stipitate, triquetrous and acutely winged, very tardily dehiscent. Seeds globose, with a very tumid spongy rhaphe.—Stem acutely angled, from a slender creeping rootstock, with sessile clasping leaves scabrous on the margin, and 1 or 2 flowers terminal on slender peduncles but soon appearing opposite to the leaves by the growth of the branches. (Dedicated to William Oakes.)

1. O. sessilifòlia, Watson. Leaves lance-oblong, acute at each end, pale, glaucous beneath, sessile or partly clasping; sepals 7–12´´ long; anthers obtuse; capsule short-stipitate, 6–10´´ long. (Uvularia sessilifolia, L.)—Low woods, N. Brunswick to Fla., west to Minn., Neb. and Ark.

2. O. pubérula, Watson. Slightly puberulent; leaves bright green both sides and shining, oval, mostly rounded at base, with rougher edges; styles separate to near the base, not exceeding the acute anthers; capsule not stipitate, 10–12´´ long. (Uvularia puberula, Michx.)—Mountains, Va. to S. C.

20. ERYTHRÒNIUM, L. Dog's-tooth Violet.

Perianth lily-like, of 6 distinct lanceolate sepals, recurved or spreading above, deciduous, the 3 inner usually with a callous tooth on each side of the erect base, and a groove in the middle. Filaments 6´, awl-shaped; anthers oblong-linear, continuing erect. Style elongated. Capsule obovate, contracted at base, 3-valved, loculicidal. Seeds rather numerous, ovoid, with a loose membranaceous tip.—Nearly stemless herbs, with two smooth and shining flat leaves tapering into petioles and sheathing the base of the commonly one-flowered scape, rising from a deep solid-scaly bulb. Flowers rather large, nodding, in spring. (The Greek name for the purple-flowered European species, from ἐρυθρός, red.)

1. E. Americànum, Ker. (Yellow Adder's-tongue.) Scape 6–9´ high; leaves elliptical-lanceolate, pale green, mottled with purplish and whitish and commonly minutely dotted; perianth light yellow, often spotted near the base (10–20´´ long); style club-shaped; stigmas united.—Rich ground, N. Brunswick to Fla., west to Minn. and Ark.