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.)