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.)