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.

2. E. álbidum, Nutt. (White Dog's-tooth Violet.) Leaves elliptical-lanceolate, less or not at all spotted; perianth pinkish-white; inner divisions toothless; style more slender except at the apex, bearing 3 short spreading stigmas.—Rich ground, N. Y. to N. J., west to Minn. and Kan.

3. E. propúllans, Gray. Offshoot arising from the stem, near the middle; leaves smaller and more acuminate; flowers bright rose-color, yellowish at base (6´´ long); style slender; stigmas united.—In rich soil, Minn. and Ont.

Perianth funnel-form or bell-shaped, colored, of 6 distinct sepals, spreading or recurved above, with a honey-bearing furrow at the base, deciduous; the 6 stamens somewhat adhering to their bases. Anthers linear, extrorsely attached near the middle to the tapering apex of the long filament, which is at first included, at length versatile; the cells dehiscent by a lateral or slightly introrse line. Style elongated, somewhat club-shaped; stigma 3-lobed. Capsule oblong, containing numerous flat and horizontal (depressed) soft-coated seeds densely packed in 2 rows in each cell. Bulbs scaly, producing simple stems, with numerous alternate-scattered or whorled narrow sessile leaves, and from one to several large and showy flowers; in summer. (The classical Latin name, from the Greek λείριον.)

[*] Flowers erect, the sepals narrowed below into claws; bulbs not rhizomatous.

1. L. Philadélphicum, L. (Wild Orange-red Lily. Wood Lily.) Stem 2–3° high; leaves linear-lanceolate, whorled or scattered; flowers (2–4´ long) 1–3, open-bell-shaped, reddish-orange spotted with purplish inside; the lanceolate sepals not recurved at the summit; bulb of thick fleshy jointed scales.—Dry or sandy ground, N. Eng. to N. C., west to Minn. and Mo.

2. L. Catesbæ̀i, Walt. (Southern Red Lily.) Leaves linear-lanceolate, scattered; flower solitary, open-bell-shaped, the long-clawed sepals wavy on the margin and recurved at the summit, scarlet, spotted with dark purple and yellow inside; bulb-scales thin, narrow and leaf-bearing.—Pine-barrens, N. C. to Fla., west to Ky. and Mo.

[*][*] Flowers nodding, the sepals sessile; bulbs rhizomatous.

3. L. supérbum, L. (Turk's-cap Lily.) Stem 3–7° high; lower leaves whorled, lanceolate, pointed, 3-nerved, smooth; flowers (3´ long) often many (3–20 or 40) in a pyramidal raceme; sepals strongly revolute, bright orange, with numerous dark purple spots inside.—Rich low grounds, N. Brunswick to Ga., west to Minn. and Mo.

4. L. Canadénse, L. (Wild Yellow Lily.) Stem 2–5° high; leaves remotely whorled, lanceolate, strongly 3-nerved, the margins and nerves rough; flowers few (2–3´ long), long-peduncled, oblong-bell-shaped, the sepals recurved-spreading above, yellow or orange, usually spotted with brown.—Moist meadows and bogs, N. Brunswick to Ga., west to Minn. and Mo.

5. L. Gràyi, Watson. Stems 2–3° high; leaves in whorls of 4–8, lanceolate, acute or slightly acuminate, smooth; flowers 1 or 2, nearly horizontal, the sepals (1½–2½´ long) but little spreading above the rather broad base, rather abruptly acute, deep reddish orange, thickly spotted within.—Peaks of Otter, Va., and southward in the mountains to N. C.

L. tigrìnum, Ker. (Tiger Lily.) Tall, pubescent above; leaves scattered, narrowly lanceolate, dark green, 5–7-nerved, the upper axils bulbiferous; flowers large, resembling those of L. superbum.—An escape from gardens. (Adv. from E. Asia.)

22. MEDÈOLA, Gronov. Indian Cucumber-root.

1. M. Virginiàna, L.—Rich damp woods, N. Eng. to Minn., Ind., and southward. June.

23. TRÍLLIUM, L. Wake Robin. Birthroot.

Sepals 3, lanceolate, spreading, herbaceous, persistent. Petals 3, larger, withering in age. Stamens 6; anthers linear, on short filaments, adnate, usually introrse; the cells opening down the margins. Stigmas sessile, awl-shaped or slender, spreading or recurved above, persistent, stigmatic down the inner side. Ovary 3–6-angled. Berry ovate, usually 6-angled or -winged, 3-celled (purple or red). Seeds ovate, horizontal, several in each cell.—Low perennial herbs, with a stout and simple stem rising from a short and præmorse tuber-like rootstock, naked, bearing at the summit a whorl of 3 ample, commonly broadly ovate, more or less ribbed but netted-veined leaves, and a terminal large flower; in spring. (Name from triplum, triple; all the parts being in threes.)—Monstrosities are not rare with the calyx and sometimes petals changed to leaves, or the parts of the flower increased in number.

[*] Ovary and fruit 6-angled and more or less winged.

[+] Flower sessile; the very broad connective produced beyond the anther-cells.

1. T. séssile, L. Leaves sessile, ovate or rhomboidal, acute, often blotched or spotted; sepals spreading; sessile petals erect-spreading, narrowly lanceolate or oblanceolate, dark and dull purple, varying to greenish, fruit globose, 6´´ long.—Moist woods, Penn. to Fla., west to Minn. and Ark.

2. T. recurvàtum, Beck. Leaves contracted at the base into a petiole, ovate, oblong, or obovate; sepals reflexed; petals pointed, the base narrowed into a claw, oblong-lanceolate to -ovate, dark purple; fruit ovate, strongly winged above, 9´´ long.—Rich woods, Ohio and Ind. to Minn. and Ark.

[+][+] Flower pedicelled; connective narrow, not produced; leaves subsessile.

[++] Pedicel longer than the flower; filament shorter than the anther.

3. T. eréctum, L. Leaves very broadly rhombic (2½–6´ wide), shortly acuminate; pedicel (1–3´ long) usually more or less inclined or declinate; petals ovate to lanceolate (9–18´´ long), brown-purple or often white or greenish or pinkish; stamens equalling or exceeding the stout distinct spreading or recurved stigmas; fruit ovate, 1´ long, reddish.—Rich woods, N. Scotia to N. C., west to Minn. and Mo. Flowers ill-scented.

[++][++] Pedicel short, recurved or strongly declinate; filaments slender, about equalling the anther.

5. T. cérnuum, L. Leaves very broadly rhombic-ovate (2–4´ broad); petals white or pink, ovate- to oblong-lanceolate (6–12´´ long), wavy, recurved-spreading; stamens with short anthers, shorter than the stout recurved distinct stigmas; fruit ovate.—Moist woods, N. Eng. to Minn., south to Ga. and Mo.

[*][*] Ovary and fruit 3-lobed or angled, not winged; filaments slender, about equalling the anthers; pedicel erect or inclined; leaves petiolate.

6. T. nivàle, Riddell. (Dwarf White T.) Small (2–4´ high); leaves oval or ovate, obtuse (1–2´ long); petals oblong, obtuse (6–15´´ long), white, scarcely wavy, spreading from an erect base, equalling the peduncle; styles long and slender; fruit depressed globose, with 3 rounded lobes, 3–4´´ long.—Rich woods, W. Penn. and Ky. to Minn. and Iowa.

7. T. erythrocárpum, Michx. (Painted T.) Leaves ovate, taper-pointed; petals ovate or oval-lanceolate, pointed, wavy, widely spreading, white painted with purple stripes at the base, shorter than the peduncle; fruit broad-ovate, obtuse, 7–9´´ long.—Cold damp woods and bogs, N. Brunswick to Ga., west to Wisc. and Mo.

24. HELÒNIAS, L.

Flowers perfect. Perianth of 6 spatulate-oblong purple sepals, persistent, several-nerved, glandless, turning green, shorter than the thread-like filaments. Anthers 2-celled, roundish-oval, blue, extrorse. Styles revolute, stigmatic down the inner side, deciduous. Capsule obcordately 3-lobed, loculicidally 3-valved; the valves divergently 2-lobed. Seeds many in each cell, linear, with a tapering appendage at both ends.—A smooth perennial, with many oblong-spatulate or oblanceolate evergreen flat leaves, from a tuberous rootstock, producing in early spring a stout hollow sparsely bracteate scape (1–2° high), sheathed with broad bracts at the base, and terminated by a simple and short dense raceme. Bracts obsolete; pedicels shorter than the flowers. (Name probably from ἕλος, a swamp, the place of growth.)

1. H. bullàta, L.—Wet places, Penn. and N. J. to Va.; rare and local.

25. CHAMÆLÍRIUM, Willd. Devil's-Bit.

1. C. Caroliniànum, Willd. (Blazing-Star.) Stem 1–4° high. (C. luteum, Gray.)—Low grounds, N. Eng. to Ga., west to Neb. and Ark. June.

26. XEROPHÝLLUM, Michx.

Flowers perfect. Perianth widely spreading; sepals petal-like (white), oval, distinct, without glands or claws, 5–7-nerved, at length withering, about the length of the awl-shaped filaments. Anthers 2-celled, short, extrorse. Styles thread-like, stigmatic down the inner side, persistent. Capsule globular, 3-lobed, obtuse (small), loculicidal; the valves bearing the partitions. Seeds 2 in each cell, collateral, 3-angled, not margined.—Herb with the stem simple, 1–4° high, from a thick tuberous rootstock, bearing a simple dense bracteate raceme of showy flowers, and thickly beset with needle-shaped leaves, the upper reduced to bristle-like bracts; those from the root very many in a dense tuft, reclined, a foot long or more, 1´´ wide below, rough on the margin, remarkably dry and rigid. (Name from ξηρός, arid, and φύλλον, leaf.)

1. X. setifòlium, Michx. Stem 1–4° high. (X. asphodeloides, Nutt.)—Pine-barrens, N. J. to Ga. June.

27. TOFIÈLDIA, Hudson. False Asphodel.

Flowers perfect, usually with a little 3-bracted involucre underneath. Perianth more or less spreading, persistent; the sepals (white or greenish) concave, oblong or obovate, without claws, 3-nerved. Filaments awl-shaped; anthers short, innate or somewhat introrse, 2-celled. Styles awl-shaped; stigmas terminal. Capsule 3-angular, 3-partible or septicidal; cells many-seeded. Seeds oblong, horizontal.—Slender perennials, mostly tufted, with short or creeping rhizomes, and simple stems leafy only at the base, bearing small flowers in a close raceme or spike. Leaves 2-ranked, equitant, linear, grass-like. (Named for Mr. Tofield, an English botanist of the last century.)

[*] Glabrous; pedicels solitary, in a short raceme or head; seeds not appendaged.

1. T. palústris, Hudson. Scape leafless or nearly so (2–6´ high), slender, bearing a globular or oblong head or short raceme of whitish flowers; leaves tufted, ½–1½´ long.—L. Superior, and northward. (Eu.)

[*][*] Stem and inflorescence pubescent; pedicels fascicled in threes; seeds caudate.

2. T. glutinòsa, Willd. Stem (6–16´ high) and pedicels very glutinous with dark glands; leaves broadly linear, short; perianth not becoming rigid; capsule thin; seeds with a contorted tail at each end.—Moist grounds, Maine to Minn., and northward; also south in the Alleghanies. June.

3. T. pùbens, Ait. Stem (1–3° high) and pedicels roughened with minute glands; leaves longer and narrower; perianth rigid about the firm capsule; seeds with a short white appendage at each end.—Pine-barrens, N. J. to Fla. and Ala. July.

28. NARTHÈCIUM, Moehring. Bog-Asphodel.

1. N. Americànum, Ker. Stem 1° high or more; leaves 1´´ wide, 7–9-nerved; raceme dense (1–2´ long); perianth-segments narrowly linear (2–2½´´ long), scarcely exceeding the stamens. (N. ossifragum, var. Americanum, Gray.)—Sandy bogs, pine-barrens of N. J. June, July.

29. MELÁNTHIUM, Linn.

Flowers monœciously polygamous. Perianth of 6 separate and free widely spreading somewhat heart-shaped or oblong and halberd-shaped or oblanceolate sepals, raised on slender claws, cream-colored or greenish, the base marked with 2 approximate or confluent glands, or glandless, turning greenish brown and persistent. Filaments shorter than the sepals, adhering to their claws often to near the summit, persistent. Anthers heart-shaped or kidney-shaped, confluently 1-celled, shield-shaped after opening, extrorse. Styles 3, awl-shaped, diverging, tipped with simple stigmas. Capsule ovoid-conical, 3-lobed, of 3 inflated membranaceous carpels united in the axis, separating when ripe, and splitting down the inner edge, several-seeded. Seeds flat, broadly winged.—Stems tall and leafy, from a thick rootstock, roughish-downy above, as well as the open and ample pyramidal panicle (composed chiefly of simple racemes), the terminal part mostly fertile. Leaves linear to oblanceolate or oval, not plaited. (Name composed of μέλας, black, and ἄνθος, flower, from the darker color which the persistent perianth assumes after blossoming.)

[*] Sepals with a conspicuous double gland at the summit of the claw.

1. M. Virgínicum, L. (Bunch-flower.) Stem 3–5° high, leafy, rather slender; leaves linear (4–10´´ wide); sepals flat, ovate to oblong or slightly hastate (2½–4´´ long); capsule 6´´ long; seeds 10 in each cell, 2–3´´ long.—Wet meadows, N. Eng. to N. C., west to Minn. and Tex.

2. M. latifòlium, Desrouss. Leaves more oblanceolate, often 2´ broad; sepals undulate (2–3´´ long), the very narrow claw nearly equalling the orbicular or ovate blade; capsule 6–8´´ long; styles more slender; seeds 4–8 in each cell, 3–4´´ long. (M. racemosum, Michx.)—W. Conn. to S. C.

[*][*] Sepals oblanceolate, without glands.

3. M. parviflòrum, Watson. Stem rather slender (2–5° high), sparingly leafy, naked above; leaves oval to oblanceolate (2–4´ wide), on long petioles; sepals 2–3´´ long, oblanceolate or spatulate, those of the sterile flowers on claws; stamens very short; capsule 6´´ long; seeds 4–6 in each cell, 4´´ long. (Veratrum parviflorum, Michx.)—In the Alleghanies, Va. to S. C.

30. VERÀTRUM, Tourn. False Hellebore.

1. V. víride, Ait. (American White Hellebore. Indian Poke.) Stem stout, very leafy to the top (2–7° high); leaves broadly oval, pointed, sheath-clasping; panicle pyramidal, the dense spike-like racemes spreading; perianth yellowish-green, moderately spreading, the segments ciliate-serrulate; ovary glabrous; capsule many-seeded.—Swamps and low grounds, common.

2. V. Woódii, Robbins. Stem slender, sparingly leafy (2–5° high); leaves oblanceolate, only the lowest sheathing; panicle very narrow; perianth greenish-purple, with entire segments; ovary tomentose, soon glabrate; capsule few-seeded.—Woods and hilly barrens, S. Ind. to Mo.

31. STENÁNTHIUM, Gray.

Flowers polygamous. Perianth spreading; the sepals narrowly lanceolate, tapering to a point from the broader base, where they are united and coherent with the base of the ovary, not gland-bearing, persistent, much longer than the short stamens. Anthers, capsules, etc., nearly as in Veratrum. Seeds nearly wingless.—Smooth, with a wand-like leafy stem from a bulbous base, long and grass-like conduplicate-keeled leaves, and numerous small flowers in compound racemes, forming a long terminal panicle; in summer. (Name composed of στενός, narrow, and ἄνθος, flower, from the slender sepals and panicles.)

1. S. angustifòlium, Gray. Stem leafy (3–4° high), very slender; leaves 2–3´´ broad; panicle elongated, nearly simple, very open, with slender flexuous branches; flowers nearly sessile or the fertile on short pedicels; sepals linear-lanceolate (white), 2–3´´ long; capsule strongly reflexed, narrowly oblong-ovate, with spreading beaks.—In the Alleghanies from Va. to S. C.

2. S. robústum, Watson. Resembling the last; stem stout, leafy, erect (3–5° high); leaves 4–10´´ broad; panicle or raceme often 2° long, frequently compound with numerous slender branches; sepals (white or green) 3–4´´ long; capsule erect, ovate, with recurved beaks.—Penn. to S. C., Ohio and Tenn.

32. ZYGADÈNUS, Michx.

Flowers perfect or polygamous. Perianth withering-persistent, spreading; the petal-like oblong or ovate sepals 1–2-glandular near the more or less narrowed but not unguiculate base, which is either free, or united and coherent with the base of the ovary. Stamens free from the sepals and about their length. Anthers, styles, and capsule nearly as in Melanthium. Seeds angled, rarely at all margined.—Very smooth and somewhat glaucous perennials, with simple stems from creeping rootstocks or coated bulbs, linear leaves, and rather large panicled greenish-white flowers; in summer. (Name composed of ζυγός, a yoke, and ἀδήν, a gland, the glands being sometimes in pairs.)

[*] Glands on the perianth conspicuous.

[+] Rootstock creeping; glands 2, orbicular, above the broad claw.

[+][+] Root bulbous; glands covering the base of the sepals.

2. Z. élegans, Pursh. Stem 1–3° high; leaves flat, carinate; raceme simple or sparingly branched and few-flowered; bracts ovate-lanceolate; base of the perianth coherent with the base of the ovary, the thin ovate or obovate sepals marked with a large obcordate gland, the inner abruptly contracted to a broad claw. (Z. glaucus, Nutt.)—N. Eng. to N. Ill., Minn., and westward.

3. Z. Nuttàllii, Gray. Like the last; raceme rather densely flowered, with narrow bracts; perianth free; sepals with an ill-defined gland at base, not at all clawed; seeds larger (3´´ long).—Kan. to Tex. and Col.

[*][*] Glands of the perianth obscure; perianth small, rotate; bulb somewhat fibrous.

4. Z. leimanthoìdes, Gray. Stem 1–4° high, slender; leaves narrowly linear; flowers small (4´´ in diameter) and numerous, in a few crowded panicled racemes; only a yellowish spot on the contracted base of the divisions of the free perianth.—Low grounds, pine-barrens of N. J., to Ga.

33. AMIÁNTHIUM, Gray. Fly-Poison.

Flowers perfect. Perianth widely spreading; the distinct and free petal-like (white) sepals oval or obovate, without claws or glands, persistent. Filaments capillary, equalling or exceeding the perianth. Anthers, capsules, etc., nearly as in Melanthium. Styles thread-like. Seeds wingless, oblong or linear, with a loose coat, 1–4 in each cell.—Glabrous, with simple stems from a bulbous base or coated bulb, scape-like, few-leaved, terminated by a simple dense raceme of handsome flowers, turning greenish with age. Leaves linear, keeled, grass-like. (From ἀμίαντος, unspotted, and ἄνθος, flower; a name formed with more regard to euphony than to good construction, alluding to the glandless perianth.)

1. A. muscætóxicum, Gray. (Fly-Poison.) Leaves broadly linear, elongated, obtuse (½–1´ wide); raceme simple; capsule abruptly 3-horned; seeds oblong, with a fleshy red coat.—Open woods, N. J. to Fla., west to Ky. and Ark. June, July.

Order 117. PONTEDERIÀCEÆ. (Pickerel-weed Family.)

Aquatic herbs, with perfect more or less irregular flowers from a spathe; the petal-like 6-merous perianth free from the 3-celled ovary; the 3 or 6 mostly unequal or dissimilar stamens inserted in its throat.—Perianth with the 6 divisions colored alike, imbricated in 2 rows in the bud, the whole together sometimes revolute-coiled after flowering, then withering away, or the base thickened-persistent and enclosing the fruit. Anthers introrse. Ovules anatropous. Style 1; stigma 3-lobed or 6-toothed. Fruit a perfectly or incompletely 3-celled many-seeded capsule, or a 1-celled 1-seeded utricle. Embryo slender, in floury albumen.

1. Pontederia. Spike many-flowered. Perianth 2-lipped, its fleshy persistent base enclosing the 1-seeded utricle. Stamens 6.

2. Heteranthera. Spathe 1–few-flowered. Perianth salver-shaped. Stamens 3. Capsule many-seeded.

Perianth funnel-form, 2-lipped; the 3 upper divisions united to form the 3-lobed upper lip; the 3 lower spreading, and their claws, which form the lower part of the curving tube, more or less separate or separable to the base; after flowering the tube is revolute-coiled from the apex downward, and its fleshy-thickened persistent base encloses the fruit. Stamens 6; the 3 anterior long-exserted; the 3 posterior (often sterile or imperfect) with very short filaments, unequally inserted lower down; anthers versatile, oval, blue. Ovary 3-celled; two of the cells empty, the other with a single suspended ovule. Utricle 1-celled, filled with the single seed.—Stout herbs, growing in shallow water, with thick creeping rootstocks, producing erect long-petioled mostly heart-shaped leaves, and a 1-leaved stem, bearing a spike of violet-blue ephemeral flowers. Root-leaves with a sheathing stipule within the petiole. (Dedicated to Pontedera, Professor at Padua at the beginning of the last century.)

1. P. cordàta, L. Leaves arrow-heart-shaped, blunt, or sometimes triangular-elongated and tapering and scarcely cordate (var. angustifòlia, Torr.); spike dense, from a spathe-like bract; upper lobe of perianth marked with a pair of yellow spots (rarely all white); calyx-tube in fruit crested with 6 toothed ridges.—N. Scotia to Fla., west to Minn. and Tex. July–Sept.

2. HETERANTHÈRA, Ruiz & Pav. Mud-Plantain.

Perianth salver-form with a slender tube; the limb somewhat equally 6-parted, ephemeral. Stamens 3, in the throat, usually unequal; anthers erect. Capsule 1-celled or incompletely 3-celled by intrusion of the placentæ, many-seeded.—Creeping, floating or submerged low herbs, in mud or shallow water, with a 1–few-flowered spathe bursting from the sheathing side or base of a petiole. (Name from ἑτέρα, different, and ἀνθηρά, anther.)

[*] Stamens unequal; 2 posterior filaments with ovate yellow anthers; the other longer, with a larger oblong or sagittate greenish anther; capsule incompletely 3-celled; leaves rounded, long-petioled; creeping or floating plants.

1. H. renifórmis, Ruiz & Pav. Leaves round-kidney-shaped to cordate and acute; spathe 3–5-flowered; flowers white or pale blue.—Conn. to N. J., west to Ill. and E. Kan., and southward. (S. Am.)

2. H. limòsa, Vahl. Leaves oblong or lance-oblong, obtuse at both ends; spathe 1-flowered; flowers larger, blue.—Va. to Mo. and La. (S. Am.)

[*][*] Stamens alike, with sagittate anthers; capsule 1-celled, with 3 parietal placentæ; leaves linear, translucent, sessile; submerged grass-like herbs, with only the flowers reaching the surface.

3. H. gramínea, Vahl. The slender branching stems clothed with leaves and bearing a terminal 1-flowered spathe (becoming lateral); flowers small, pale yellow, with a very long thread-like tube. (Schollera graminifolia, Willd.)—N. Eng. to N. C., west to Minn. and E. Kan.

Order 118. XYRIDÀCEÆ. (Yellow-eyed-grass Family.)

1. XỲRIS, Gronov. Yellow-eyed Grass.

Flowers single in the axils of coriaceous scale-like bracts, which are densely imbricated in a head. Sepals 3; the 2 lateral glume-like, boat-shaped or keeled and persistent; the anterior one larger and membranaceous, enwrapping the corolla in the bud and deciduous with it. Petals 3, with claws, which cohere more or less. Fertile stamens 3, with linear anthers, inserted on the claws of the petals, alternating with 3 sterile filaments, which are cleft and in our species plumose or bearded at the apex. Style 3-cleft. Capsule oblong, free, 1-celled, with 3 parietal more or less projecting placentæ, 3-valved, many-seeded.—Flowers yellow, produced all summer. Ours apparently all perennials. (Ξυρίς, a name of some plant with 2-edged leaves, from ξυρόν, a razor.)

1. X. flexuòsa, Muhl. Scape slender (10–16´ high), barely flattened at the summit, often from a bulbous base, very smooth, much longer than the narrowly linear leaves, both commonly twisted with age; head roundish-ovoid (3–4´´ long); lateral sepals oblong lanceolate, finely ciliate-scarious on the narrow wingless keel, usually with a minute bearded tuft at the apex, shorter than the bract.—Sandy or peaty bogs, Mass. to Fla., west to Minn. and Mo.

Var. pusìlla, Gray. Small and very slender, seldom twisted, 2–9´ high, the base not bulbous; head 2–3´´ long.—White Mts. to Penn., west to L. Superior.

2. X. tórta, Smith. Scape terete, with one sharp edge, slender, 9–20´ high, from a dark bulbous base, and with the linear-filiform rigid leaves becoming spirally twisted; head ovoid, becoming spindle-shaped, or oblong and acute (5–9´´ long); sepals exceeding the bract; lateral sepals winged on the keel and fringed above the middle.—Pine barrens, in dry sand, N. J. to Fla., Tex. and Ark.

3. X. Caroliniàna, Walt. Scape flattish, 1-angled below, 2-edged at the summit, smooth, ½–2° high, the base hardly bulbous; leaves linear-sword-shaped, flat, 2–4´´ broad; head globular-ovoid (5–7´´ long); lateral sepals obscurely lacerate-fringed above on the winged keel, rather shorter than the bract.—Sandy swamps, near the coast, Mass. to Fla.

4. X. fimbriàta, Ell. Scape somewhat angled, 2-edged above, rough (2° high), rather longer than the linear-sword-shaped or strap-shaped leaves, the base not bulbous; head oblong-ovate (6–10´´ long); lateral sepals lanceolate-linear, nearly twice the length of the bract, above the middle conspicuously fringed on the wing-margined keel, and even plumose at the summit.—Pine-barrens, N. J. to Fla. and Tex.

Order 119. MAYÀCEÆ. (Mayaca Family.)

Moss-like aquatic plants, densely leafy, with narrowly-linear sessile pellucid leaves, axillary naked peduncles terminated by a solitary perfect 3-androus flower, herbaceous calyx, white corolla, and a 3-valved 1-celled several-seeded capsule.

The only genus. Perianth persistent, of 3 herbaceous lanceolate sepals, and 3 obovate petals. Stamens alternate with the petals. Ovary with 3 parietal few-ovuled placentæ; style filiform; stigma simple.—Creeping or floating in shallow water; the leaves 1-nerved, entire, notched at the apex; the peduncle solitary, sheathed at base. (An aboriginal name.)

1. M. Michaùxii, Schott & Endl. Peduncles not much exceeding the leaves, nodding in fruit.—Va. to Fla. and Tex.

Order 120. COMMELINÀCEÆ. (Spiderwort Family.)

Herbs, with fibrous or sometimes thickened roots, jointed and often branching leafy stems, and chiefly perfect and 6-androus, often irregular flowers, with the perianth free from the 2–3-celled ovary, and having a distinct calyx and corolla; viz., 3 persistent commonly herbaceous sepals, and 3 petals, ephemeral, decaying or deciduous. Stamens hypogynous, some of them often sterile; anthers with 2 separated cells. Style 1; stigma undivided. Capsule 2–3-celled, 2–3-valved, loculicidal, 3–several-seeded. Seeds orthotropous. Embryo small, pulley-shaped, partly sunk in a shallow depression at the apex of the albumen. Leaves ovate, lanceolate or linear, parallel-veined, flat, sheathed at base; the uppermost often dissimilar and forming a kind of spathe.—Chiefly tropical.

1. Commelina. Cyme sessile within a cordate or connate bract (spathe). Petals unequal. Perfect stamens 3; filaments naked.

2. Tradescantia. Bracts leaf-like or small and scarious. Petals equal. Perfect stamens 6; filaments bearded.

1. COMMELÌNA, Dill. Day-flower.

Flowers irregular. Sepals somewhat colored, unequal; the 2 lateral partly united by their contiguous margins. Two lateral petals rounded or kidney-shaped, on long claws, the odd one smaller. Stamens unequal, 3 of them fertile, one of which is bent inward; 3 of them sterile and smaller, with imperfect cross-shaped anthers; filaments naked. Capsule 3-celled, two of the cells 2-seeded, the other 1-seeded or abortive.—Stems branching, often procumbent and rooting at the joints. Leaves contracted at base into sheathing petioles; the floral one heart-shaped and clasping, folded together or hooded, forming a spathe enclosing the flowers, which expand for a single morning and are recurved on their pedicel before and afterwards. Petals blue. Flowering all summer. Ours all with perennial roots, or propagating by striking root from the joints. (Dedicated to the early Dutch botanists. J. and G. Commelin.)

[*] Ventral cells 2-ovuled (usually 2-seeded), the dorsal 1-ovuled.

1. C. nudiflòra, L. Slender and creeping, glabrous; leaves lanceolate, small (1–2´ long); spathe cordate, acute, with margins not united; seeds reticulated. (C. Cayennensis, Richard.)—Alluvial banks, Del. to Fla., west to Ind., Mo. and Tex.

[*][*] Cells 1-ovuled, 1-seeded; seeds smooth; spathe cucullate; roots sub-tuberous.

3. C. erécta, L. Slender, often low; leaves linear; cells all dehiscent.—Penn. to Fla.

4. C. Virgínica, L. Slender, usually tall; leaves lanceolate to linear; dorsal cell indehiscent, scabrous.—Damp rich woods and banks, southern N. Y. to Fla., west to Mich., Iowa, and Mo.

2. TRADESCÁNTIA, L. Spiderwort.

Flowers regular. Sepals herbaceous. Petals all alike, ovate, sessile. Stamens all fertile; filaments bearded. Capsule 2–3-celled, the cells 1–2-seeded.—Perennials. Stems mucilaginous, mostly upright, nearly simple, leafy. Leaves keeled. Flowers ephemeral, in umbelled clusters, axillary and terminal, produced through the summer; floral leaves nearly like the others. (Named for the elder Tradescant, gardener to Charles the First of England.)

[*] Umbels terminal or sometimes lateral, sessile, subtended by 1 or 2 leaf-like bracts; leaves linear to narrowly lanceolate, flowers blue.

1. T. Virgínica, L. (Common Spiderwort.) Roots fleshy-fibrous, smooth or only slightly villous, more or less glaucous, often tall and slender and with linear leaves, rather rarely with 1 or 2 long lateral peduncles; bracts usually a pair.—Rich ground, N. Y. to Fla., west to Minn., Tex., and the Rocky Mts. Very variable.—Var. villòsa, Watson. Often dwarf, more or less villous throughout as well as pubescent. Mississippi valley and Gulf States.—Var. flexuòsa, Watson. Stout and dark green, with large linear-lanceolate pubescent leaves, the stem usually flexuous, and with several short lateral branches or sessile axillary heads. (T. flexuosa, Raf.)—Ohio to Ky. and Ga. T. pilosa, Lehm., is an intermediate form.

[*][*] Umbel pedunculate, subtended by small subscarious bracts; flowers small, rose-color.

2. T. ròsea, Vent. Small, slender (6–10´ high), smooth, erect from a running rootstock; leaves very narrowly linear, grass-like.—Sandy woods, Md. to Fla., west to Ky. and Mo.

Order 121. JUNCÀCEÆ. (Rush Family.)

Grass-like or rush-like herbs, with small flowers, a regular and hypogynous persistent perianth of 6 similar glumaceous sepals, 6 or rarely 3 stamens with 2-celled anthers, a single short style, 3 filiform hairy stigmas, and an ovary either 3-celled or 1-celled with 3 parietal placentæ, forming a loculicidal 3-valved capsule. Seeds anatropous, with a minute embryo enclosed at the base of the fleshy albumen.—Flowers liliaceous in structure, but sedge-like in aspect and texture.

1. Juncus. Capsule 3-celled (or imperfectly so), many-seeded. Plants never hairy, in moist ground or water.

2. Luzula. Capsule 1-celled, 3-seeded. Plant, often hairy, in dry ground.

Capsule many-seeded, 3-celled, or 1-celled by the placentæ not reaching the axis. Stamens when 3 opposite the 3 outer sepals.—Chiefly perennials, and in wet soil or water, with pithy or hollow and simple (rarely branching) stems, and panicled or clustered small (greenish or brownish) flowers, chiefly in summer. Plant never hairy. (The classical name, from jungo, to join, alluding to the use of the stems for bands.)

§ 1. Stems leafless and scape-like, from matted running rootstocks, sheathed at base; the sheaths sometimes bearing terete knotless leaves like the scape; flowers in sessile apparently lateral panicles, the involucral leaf being similar to and continuing the scape.—Juncus proper.

[*] Flowers solitary on the pedicels or ultimate ramifications of the panicle.

[+] Sheaths at base of the stem leafless.

[++] Stamens 3.

1. J. effùsus, L. (Common or Soft Rush.) Scape soft and pliant (2–4° high); inner sheaths awned; panicle diffusely much branched, many-flowered; flowers small (1¼´´ long), greenish; sepals lanceolate, very acute, as long as the narrow triangular-obovate retuse and pointless greenish-brown capsule; anthers as long as the filaments; style very short; seeds small (about ¼´´ long), with short pale points.—Marshy ground, very common. (Eu.)—Var. conglomeràtus, Engelm. Scape more distinctly striate; panicle closely crowded; capsule short-pointed. In sphagnous swamps.

[++][++] Stamens 6.

2. J. filifórmis, L. Scape very slender (1–2° high), pliant; panicle few-flowered, almost simple; flowers 1½´´ long; sepals lanceolate, the inner a little shorter and less acute, longer than the broadly ovate obtuse but mucronate greenish capsule; anthers shorter than the filaments; style very short; seed (less than {1/3}´´ long) short-pointed at both ends, indistinctly reticulated.—N. Eng. to Mich., Neb., and northward. (Eu.)

3. J. Smíthii, Engelm. Scape rather slender (2–3° high); panicle few-flowered, nearly simple; flowers brown (1¼´´ long); outer sepals lanceolate, acute, the inner a little shorter, obtusish, shorter than the broadly ovate rather triangular acute deep chestnut-brown capsule; anthers as long as the filaments; style short; seeds large ({1/3}´´ long or more), obtuse, short-appendaged at both ends, many-ribbed and reticulated.—Sphagnous swamps, on Broad Mt. and in Lebanon Co., Penn.

4. J. Bálticus, Dethard, var. littoràlis, Engelm. Scape rigid (2–3° high); panicle loose; flowers larger (2´´ long), chestnut-brown with green; sepals ovate-lanceolate, the outer sharp-pointed, the inner obtusish, as long as the elliptical rather triangular obtuse and mucronate deep brown capsule; anthers much longer than the broad filaments; style about the length of the ovary; seeds rather large (½´´ long or more), nearly obtuse, delicately ribbed and cross lined.—Sandy shores, Newf. to Mass., west to Penn., along the Great Lakes, and westward.—Var. montànus, Engelm. Sepals nearly equal; anthers 4 times longer than the filament; capsule ovate-pyramidal, angled, beaked; seeds smaller, narrower, apiculate.—Minn., west and northward.

5. J. setàceus, Rostkovius. Scape slender (1–3° high); panicle loose, rather few-flowered; flowers greenish (2´´ long); sepals lanceolate, sharp-pointed, especially the 3 shining exterior ones, spreading in fruit, as long as the nearly globose beak-pointed greenish or light-brown capsule; anthers as long as the filaments; style conspicuous; seeds ({1/3}´´ long) almost globose, ribbed and cross-lined.—Va. to Fla., west to Mo. and La.

[*][*] Flowers in clusters, 6-androus; innermost sheaths at base of stem leaf-bearing.

6. J. Rœmeriànus, Scheele. Scape stout and rigid (2–3° high), its apex as well as the leaves pungent; panicle compound, open and spreading, brown; 3–6 greenish or light-brown flowers (1½´´ long) in a cluster; outer sepals lanceolate, sharp-pointed, longer than the obtusish inner ones, as long as the elliptical rather triangular obtuse mucronate brown capsule; anthers much longer than the broad filaments; styles shorter than the ovary; seeds ({1/3}´´ long) oval, obtuse, very delicately ribbed.—Brackish marshes, N. J. to Fla. and Tex.

7. J. marítimus, L. Resembling the last, but with a rigid contracted green panicle, an ovary attenuated into a style of nearly its own length, a greenish acute capsule which usually exceeds the acute sepals, and seeds with distinct tails and stronger ribs.—Known in this country only from Coney Island, N. Y., where it is apparently indigenous. (Eu.)

§ 2. Stems simple (rarely branched), leafy at base or throughout; leaves flat, or somewhat terete or setaceous and channelled, never knotted; panicle or head terminal.—Grassy-leaved Junci.

[*] Flowers in close heads (produced in late summer).

[+] Leaves thread-like, hollow; stamens 6; seeds few, large and caudate; the single head (sometimes 2) 1–4-flowered.

8. J. stýgius, L. Stems slender (6–16´ high) from slender branching rootstocks, 1–3-leaved below, naked above; heads 1 or rarely 2, of 3–4-flowers, about the length of the sheathing scarious awl-pointed bract; flowers pale and reddish (2½–3´´ long); sepals lanceolate, the inner obtusish, ¾ the length of the oblong acuminate capsule, as long as the slender stamens; filaments many times longer than the oblong anthers; recurved stigmas shorter than the style; seeds oblong, with a very loose coat prolonged at both ends (1½´´ long).—Peat-bogs, Newf. to northern N. Y., west to Mich. and N. Minn. (Eu.)

9. J. trífidus, L. Stems densely tufted from matted creeping rootstocks, erect (5–10´ high), sheathed and mostly leafless at base, 2–3-leaved at the summit, the upper thread-like leaves subtending the sessile head; flowers brown (1½–2´´ long); sepals ovate-lanceolate, acute, equalling or rather shorter than the ovate beak-pointed deep brown capsule; anthers much longer than the filaments; seeds few, oblong, angled (1´´ long), short-tailed.—Alpine summits of N. Eng. and N. Y., and far northward; also in N. J. (Eu.)

[+][+] Leaves flat and grass-like; stamens 3; stems flattened, simple, leafy.

11. J. marginàtus, Rostk. Stem erect, from a bulbous and stoloniferous base (1–3° high); leaves long-linear; heads 3–8-flowered, panicled; flowers purplish with green (1½´´ long); sepals oblong, the 3 outer acute and slightly awned, the inner longer, mostly obtuse, as long as the almost globular scarcely mucronate capsule; stamens exceeding the outer sepals; purple anthers shorter than the filaments; style very short; seeds (¼–{1/3}´´ long) slender, pointed at both ends and strongly ribbed.—Moist sandy places, S. New Eng. to Fla., west to Mich., Mo., and Tex.—Var. paucicapitàtus, Engelm., has few large 8–15-flowered heads; and var. biflòrus, Engelm., has numerous small 2–3-flowered heads in much-branched panicles.

[*][*] Flowers solitary, panicled; stamens 6.

[+] Stems slender, simple, tufted, leafy below; root perennial (fl. early in summer).

[++] Seeds tail-pointed at both ends.

12. J. Vàseyi, Engelm. Stems rigid (1–2½° high); leaves nearly terete, very slightly channelled on the inner side; panicle longer than the involucral leaf, loose; flowers few, often one-sided, greenish or light brown (2´´ long or more); sepals lanceolate, acute, appressed, shorter than the oblong and retuse green-brown capsule; anthers as long as the filaments; style very short; seeds slender (½–{2/3}´´ long), closely ribbed.—N. Maine (Pringle); Mich. to Iowa and westward.

13. J. Greénii, Oakes & Tuckerm. Stems rigid (1–2° high); leaves nearly terete, very deeply channelled (almost involute) on the inner side; panicle usually much shorter than the principal erect involucral leaf, dense, the numerous flowers often one-sided (1¾´´ long); sepals lanceolate, acute, light greenish-brown, appressed, shorter than the ovoid-oblong obtuse greenish-brown capsule; anthers as long as the filaments; style very short; seeds ovoid ({1/3}–{2/5}´´ long), ribbed and delicately cross-lined.—Sandy coast of N. Eng., N. Y., and N. J., and on the east shore of Lake Michigan.

[++][++] Seeds merely apiculate at both ends.

14. J. ténuis, Willd. Stem wiry (9–18´ high); leaves flat or channelled; panicle shorter than the involucral leaves, loose, or rarely crowded; flowers green (2´´ long or more); sepals lanceolate, very acute, spreading in fruit, longer than the ovoid retuse scarcely pointed green capsule; anthers nearly equal to the filaments; style very short; seeds small (about ¼´´ long), delicately ribbed and cross-lined.—Fields and roadsides, very common. (Eu.)—Var. secúndus, Engelm.; flowers smaller, secund along the incurved branches. N. Eng. to Penn. and Del.—Var. congéstus, Engelm.; branches contracted into a head and the flowers darker-colored. Minn. and westward.

16. J. Gerárdi, Loisel. (Black-Grass.) Stems scarcely flattened, rigid (1–2° high); panicle contracted, usually longer than the bracteal leaf; flowers chestnut-brown with green (1¾´´ long); sepals oval-oblong, obtuse, incurved, as long as the oval obtuse and mucronate capsule; anthers much longer than the short filaments; style as long as the ovary; seeds (nearly {1/3}´´ long) obovate, delicately ribbed and cross-lined.—Salt marshes; common along the coast and in W. New York; rare about the Great Lakes. (Eu.)

[+][+] Stems branched, diffuse, leafy; root annual, fibrous.

17. J. bufònius, L. Stems low and slender (3–9´ high), leafy, often branched from the base; panicle spreading, mostly with one-sided dichotomous branches; flowers remote, greenish (2–3½´´ long); sepals linear-lanceolate, awl-pointed, the 3 outer much exceeding the inner and the oblong obtuse capsule; stamens short; filaments scarcely longer than the anthers, seeds elliptical, obtuse ({1/5}–{1/6}´´ long).—Low grounds, by roadsides; common. (Eu.)

§ 3. Stems leafy; leaves terete or laterally flattened, more or less distinctly knotted by internal transverse partitions; panicle terminal, with flowers chiefly in heads.—Knotty-leaved Junci.

[*] Seeds barely pointed, not caudate.

[+] Flowers solitary or 2 together, panicled; stamens 6.

18. J. pelocárpus, E. Meyer. Stems slender and erect from a slender running rootstock (6–18´ high), bearing few thread-like slightly knotted leaves, branching above into a compound spreading panicle, bearing the flowers in the forks and along one side of the branches; often with the flowers or in place of them are tufts of leaves; flowers small (1–1¼´´ long), greenish with red; sepals oblong, obtuse, the 3 inner ones longer, but shorter than the oblong taper-beaked, 1-celled capsule; anthers much longer than the filaments; style slender; seeds (¼´´ long) obovate, short-pointed.—Sandy, wet or swampy places, Newf. to Fla., west along the Great Lakes to Minn. The proliferous plants are usually sterile and much larger, with larger diffuse panicles.—Var. súbtilis, Engelm. Creeping or floating, with a single pair of flowers at the end of the short stems.—Somerset Co., Maine (C. E. Smith); Canada.

[+][+] Heads numerous, of 3–12-flowers (rarely more); in early summer.

[++] Stamens 6.

19. J. articulàtus, L. Stems ascending or erect (9–15´ high), tufted from a short creeping rootstock, with 1 or 2 slender leaves; panicle short, spreading, the crowded heads 3–8-flowered; flowers brown, rarely pale (1¼–1½´´ long); sepals lance-oblong, acute or mucronate, or the 3 inner obtuse and a little longer, shorter than the ovate-oblong acute or abruptly mucronate-pointed incompletely 3-celled commonly deep chestnut-brown shining capsule; anthers as long as the filaments; ovary attenuate into a short style; seeds (less than {1/3}´´ long) obovate, attenuate below, abruptly pointed above.—Wet grounds, Newf. to Del., west to western N. Y. and Mich. (Eu.)

21. J. militàris, Bigel. Stem stout (2–4° high) from a thick creeping rootstock, bearing a solitary stout erect leaf (½–3½° long) below the middle, which overtops the crowded and rather contracted panicle; heads numerous, 5–12- (rarely 25-) flowered; flowers brownish (1½´´ long); sepals lanceolate, the outer awl-pointed, as long as the ovate-oblong triangular taper-beaked 1-celled capsule; anthers longer than the filaments; ovary attenuate into a slender style; seeds (¼–{1/3}´´ long) globose-obovate, obtuse, abruptly pointed.—In bogs and streams, Maine to Md. Sometimes producing, in flowing water, numberless capillary submersed leaves, 2–3° long, from the rootstock.

[++][++] Stamens 3.

22. J. acuminàtus, Michx. Stems tufted, erect, slender (1–2° long), bearing about 2 leaves and a very loose spreading panicle; heads rather few and large, 5–many-flowered, greenish, at length straw-colored or darker; sepals lance-awl-shaped, sharp-pointed, equal (1½–2´´ long), as long as the triangular-prismatic short-pointed 1-celled straw-colored or light brown capsule; anthers a little shorter than the filaments; style almost none; seeds small ({1/5}–{1/4}´´ long), acute at both ends, ribbed-reticulated.—N. Eng. to Ga., Minn. and Tex. May, June. Very variable. Heads often proliferous in autumn.

Var. débilis, Engelm. Stems slender (9–18´ high); heads green, 3–6-flowered, in a loose panicle; flowers smaller (1¼–1½´´ long); capsule longer than the sepals.—Wet sandy soil, N. J. to S. C., west to Ohio, Mo., and Miss. Stem sometimes decumbent and rooting.

Var. robústus, Engelm. Stems stout, tall (2–4° high), bearing numerous 5–8-flowered light-brown heads in a large much-branched panicle; flowers small (1–1{1/5}´´ long); ovoid capsule scarcely longer than the sepals.—Deep swamps, Ill. to Mo. and La.

[+][+][+] Heads few, crowded, of numerous flowers.

[++] Stamens 3; stem rigid from a thick white horizontal rootstock.

23. J. brachycárpus, Engelm. Stem erect (1–2½° high), bearing about 2 leaves and 2–10 densely flowered spherical heads (4–5´´ wide) in a slightly spreading crowded panicle much exceeding the involucral leaf; flowers pale green (2´´ long); sepals lance-linear, awl-pointed, the 3 outer much longer than the inner, and the ovoid pointed 1-celled capsule rather shorter; anthers much shorter than the filaments; style very short; seeds ({1/5}´´ long) abruptly apiculate.—Moist places in open woods and prairies, Ohio and Mich. to Mo., Miss., and Tex.

Var. echinàtus, Engelm. Stouter; leaves terete; branches of the compact panicle short; heads larger (5–6´´ wide), 40–80-flowered; flowers 1¾–2´´ long); sepals narrower and more sharply pointed, the outer a little longer than the inner; stamens shorter and anthers longer than in the preceding, and seeds rather smaller and more slender.—Md. to Fla.

Var. polycéphalus, Engelm. Much stouter; leaves laterally flattened (3–6´´ wide); panicle spreading, branched, bearing many distant heads as large as in the last; flowers 2–2½´´ long; the 3 outer sepals the longer; anthers about as long as the filaments; seeds larger ({1/3}´´ long).—S. Va. to Fla., west to Mo. and Tex.

[++][++] Stamens 6.

25. J. nodòsus, L. Stem erect (6–15' or 2° high), slender from a creeping thread-like and tuber-bearing rootstock, mostly with 2 or 3 slender leaves; heads few or several, rarely single, 8–20-flowered (3½–4´´ wide), overtopped by the involucral leaf; flowers brown (1½–2´´ long); sepals lance-linear, awl-pointed (the 3 outer mostly a little shorter), nearly as long as the slender triangular taper-pointed 1-celled capsule; anthers oblong, shorter than the filaments; style very short; seeds (about ¼´´ long) obovate, abruptly mucronate.—Swamps and gravelly banks, N. J. and Penn. to N. Ind. and Iowa, and northward.—July, Aug.—Var. MEGACÉPHALUS, Torr. Stem stout (1–3° high), with thick leaves; heads few and large (6–8´´ wide), 30–80-flowered; flowers pale green (2¼–2¾´´ long); outer sepals longest; anthers linear, shorter than the filaments.—Western N. Y. to Minn. and Mo., and westward.

[*][*] Seeds caudate.

[+] Stamens 3.

26. J. Canadénsis, J. Gay. Tufted stems erect, terete, smooth, bearing 2–3 leaves; heads few- or many-flowered, paniculate; sepals lanceolate, the 3 outer shorter than the inner, not much longer than the stamens, equal to or shorter than the triangular-prismatic almost 1-celled usually short-pointed capsule; style mostly short; seeds more or less distinctly tail pointed, delicately many ribbed.—Common almost everywhere. Aug., Sept. Easily distinguished by its late flowering from the similar n. 22. Very variable.

Var. longicaudàtus, Engelm. Stem stout and rigid (1½–3° high), bearing in a decompound somewhat spreading panicle the numerous 5–50-flowered heads; flowers greenish or light brown (1½–2´´ long); sepals awl-pointed, mostly shorter than the abruptly short-pointed capsule; seeds slender ({2/3}–1´´ long), conspicuously tail-pointed.—Mass. to S. C., west to Minn. and La. The most common form.

Var. brachycéphalus, Engelm. Stem slender (1½–2½° high), bearing numerous small 3–5-flowered heads in a large spreading panicle; flowers greenish or light brown (1¼–1½´´ long); sepals mostly obtuse, shorter than the brown abruptly short-pointed capsule; style longer than in other forms; seeds smaller (¼–{1/3}´´ long), slender, with rather short appendages.—Penn. and western N. Y., to Wisc. and Ill.

Var. coarctàtus, Engelm. Stem slender, shorter (9–18´ high), bearing fewer deep-brown 3–5-flowered heads in a somewhat erect contracted panicle; flowers as large as in the last; sepals acute, or rarely obtusish, much shorter than the prismatic abruptly pointed deep-brown capsule; seeds as in the last.—N. Eng. to N. J., N. Minn., and westward.

[+][+] Stamens 6.

27. J. ásper, Engelm. Stems tufted, erect (2–3° high), terete, stout, rigid, and with the rigid leaves rough; panicle with rigid slightly spreading branches, bearing scattered few- (2–6-) flowered heads; flowers greenish with brown (2½´´ long); sepals ovate-lanceolate, awl-pointed, rigid and strongly nerved, the outer much shorter than the inner, these a little shorter than the triangular-ovoid beaked incompletely 3-celled brown capsule, ovary tapering into a conspicuous style; seeds large, oblong, with white or often reddish appendages (1¼´´ long).—Sphagnous swamps, N. J. Aug.

2. LÙZULA, DC. Wood-Rush.

Capsule 1-celled, 3-seeded, one seed to each parietal placenta.—Perennials, often hairy, usually in dry ground, with flat and soft usually hairy leaves, and spiked-crowded or umbelled flowers. (From Gramen Luzulæ, or Luxulæ, dim. of lux, light,—a name given to one of the species from its shining with dew.)

[*] Pedicels 1-flowered, in a loose compound cyme or umbel.

1. L. vernàlis, DC. Plant 6–9´ high; leaves lance-linear, hairy; umbel mostly simple; sepals pointed, shorter than the obtuse capsule; seeds with a curved appendage, (L. pilosa, Willd.)—Woods and banks, Newf. to the mountains of N. C., west to Minn. (Eu.)

2. L. spadícea, DC., var. melanocárpa, Meyer. Nearly smooth (1–3° high); leaves broadly linear; corymb decompound, loose; pedicels drooping; sepals pointed, straw-color, about the length of the minutely pointed and brown capsule; seeds not appendaged. (L. parviflora, var. melanocarpa, Gray.)—Mountains of Maine, Vt., and northern N. Y., to Mich. and N. Minn. (Eu.)

[*][*] Flowers crowded in spikes or close clusters. (Plants 6–12´ high.)

3. L. campéstris, DC. Leaves flat, linear; spikes 4–12, somewhat umbelled, ovoid, straw-color, some of them long-peduncled, others nearly sessile; sepals bristle-pointed, longer than the obtuse capsules; seeds with a conical appendage at base.—Dry fields and woods, common. May. (Eu.)

5. L. spicàta, Desvaux. Leaves channelled, narrowly linear; flowers in sessile clusters, forming a nodding interrupted spiked panicle, brown; sepals bristle-pointed, scarcely as long as the abruptly short-pointed capsule; seeds merely with a roundish projection at base.—With the last, and more common. (Eu.)

Order 122. TYPHÀCEÆ. (Cat-tail Family.)

Marsh or aquatic herbs, with nerved and linear sessile leaves, and monœcious flowers on a spadix or in heads, destitute of proper floral envelopes. Ovary 1–2-celled, with as many persistent styles and (usually elongated) 1-sided stigmas; cells 1-ovuled. Fruit nut-like when ripe, 1-seeded, rarely 2-seeded. Seed suspended, anatropous; embryo straight in copious albumen. Root perennial.

1. Typha. Flowers in a cylindrical compact terminal spike, spathe-like bract deciduous.

2. Sparganium. Flowers in globular heads with foliaceous bracts.

1. TỲPHA, Tourn. (Cat-tail Flag.)

Flowers in a long and very dense cylindrical spike terminating the stem; the upper part consisting of stamens only, inserted directly on the axis, and intermixed with long hairs; the lower part consisting of stipitate 1-celled ovaries, the stipes bearing club-shaped bristles, which form the copious down of the fruit. Nutlets minute, very long-stalked.—Spathes merely deciduous bracts, or none. Root-stocks creeping. Leaves long, sheathing the base of the simple jointless stems, erect, thickish. Flowering in summer. (Τύφη, the old Greek name.)

1. T. latifòlia, L. (Common Cat-tail.) Stout and tall (4–6° high), the flat sheathing leaves 3–10´´ broad, exceeding the stem; the staminate and dark brown pistillate parts of the spike (each 3–6´ long or more) usually contiguous, the latter at length 1´ in diameter; pistillate flowers without bractlets; stigma rhombic-lanceolate; pollen-grains in fours.—In marshes, throughout N. Am. (Eu.)

2. T. angustifòlia, L. Leaves narrower (3–6´´ broad), taller, somewhat convex on the back; pistillate and staminate inflorescence usually separated by a short interval, the light brown spike becoming 5–6´´ in diameter; pollen-grains simple; pistillate flowers with a linear stigma and a hair-like bractlet slightly dilated at the summit.—N. Eng. to N. J., west to Mich. and Mo.; less frequent, and mainly near the coast. (Eu.)

2. SPARGÀNIUM, Tourn. Bur-reed.