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.