Flowers monœciously polygamous. Perianth of 6 spreading and separate obovate-oblong (greenish or brownish) sepals, more or less contracted at the base (but not clawed), nearly free from the ovary, not gland-bearing. Filaments free from the sepals and shorter than they, recurving. Anthers, pistils, fruit, etc., nearly as in Melanthium.—Somewhat pubescent perennials, with simple stems from a thickened base producing coarse fibrous roots (very poisonous), 3-ranked, plaited and strongly veined leaves, and racemed-panicled dull or dingy flowers; in summer. (Name from vere, truly, and ater, black.)
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.