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.