ovate-lanceolate or lance-oblong; _stigmas 3; berries dull red_.--Rich
woods and margins of swamps, Va. to Fla., west to Ark. and Tex. June.
11. S. laurifolia, L. _Leaves thick and coriaceous, evergreen_, varying
from oblong-lanceolate to linear (21/2--5' long); _stigmas solitary_ and
_ovary 1-celled; berries black_ when ripe, 1-seeded, maturing in the
second year.--Pine-barrens, N. J. to Fla., west to Ark. and La. July,
Aug.
2. ALLIUM, L. ONION. GARLIC.
Perianth of 6 entirely colored sepals, which are distinct, or united at
the very base, 1-nerved, often becoming dry and scarious and more or
less persistent; the 6 filaments awl-shaped or dilated at base. Style
persistent, but jointed upon the very short axis of the ovary,
thread-like; stigma simple. Capsule lobed, loculicidal, 3-valved, with
1--2 ovoid-kidney-shaped amphitropous or campylotropous black seeds in
each cell.--Strong-scented and pungent stemless herbs; the leaves and
scape from a coated bulb; flowers in a simple umbel, some of them
frequently changed to bulblets; spathe scarious, 1--2-valved. (The
ancient Latin name of the Garlic.)
Sec. 1. _Bulbs cespitose, narrowly oblong and crowning a rhizome; coats
membranous._
[*] _Leaves (2 or 3) elliptic-lanceolate; ovules solitary in each cell._
1. A. tricoccum, Ait. (WILD LEEK.) Scape naked (4--12' high from
clustered pointed bulbs, 2' long), bearing an erect many-flowered umbel;
leaves 5--9' long, 1--2' wide; sepals oblong (greenish white), equalling
the nearly distinct filaments; capsule strongly 3-lobed.--Rich woods,
W. N. Eng. to Minn. and Iowa, south in the mountains to N. C. Leaves
appearing in early spring and dying before the flowers are developed.
[*][*] _Leaves linear; ovules a pair in each cell._
2. A. Schoenoprasum, L. (CHIVES.) Scape naked or leafy at base (6--12'
high), bearing a globular _capitate umbel_ of many rose-purple flowers;
sepals lanceolate, pointed, longer than the simple downwardly dilated
filaments; _leaves awl-shaped, hollow; capsule not crested_.--From N.
Brunswick and the Great Lakes to the Pacific. (Eu., Asia.)
3. A. cernuum, Roth. (WILD ONION.) _Scape naked, angular_ (1/2--2 deg. high),
nodding at the apex, bearing a _loose or drooping few--many-flowered
umbel; leaves linear, flattened, sharply keeled_ (1 deg. long); sepals
oblong-ovate, acute (rose-color), shorter than the slender filaments and
style; _capsule 6-crested_.--In the Alleghanies to S. C., west to Minn.,
Mo., Tex., and westward.
Sec. 2. _Bulbs mostly solitary, not rhizomatous; coats often fibrous;
leaves narrowly linear, flat or channelled (terete in A. vineale)._
4. A. stellatum, Nutt. _Scape terete_ (6--18' high), slender, bearing an
_erect umbel_; bulb-coats membranous; _sepals broad_, acute; _stamens
and style exserted; capsule prominently 6-crested_.--Rocky slopes, Minn.
to W. Ill. and Mo., and westward.
5. A. reticulatum, Fraser. Scape 3--8' high; _bulbs densely and coarsely
fibrous-coated_; spathe 2-valved; umbel rarely bulbiferous; sepals
ovate- to narrowly lanceolate, _thin and lax_ in fruit, _a third longer
than the stamens; capsule crested_.--Sask. to Iowa and N. Mex.
6. A. Nuttallii, Watson. Scape 4--6 deg. high, from a _very fibrous-coated
bulb_; spathe usually 3-valved; sepals usually broader, _rather rigid_
in fruit; _capsule not crested_.--Central Kan. to Tex., and westward.
7. A. Canadense, Kalm. (WILD GARLIC.) Scape 1 deg. high or more; bulb-coats
somewhat fibrous; _umbel densely bulbiferous_ or few-flowered; sepals
narrowly lanceolate, obtusish, equalling or exceeding the stamens;
_capsule not crested_.--Moist meadows, N. Eng. to Minn., south to the
Gulf. May, June.
A. VINEALE, L. (FIELD GARLIC.) Scape slender, clothed with the sheathing
bases of the leaves below the middle (1--3 deg. high); _leaves terete and
hollow_, slender, channelled above; _umbel often densely bulbiferous;
filaments much dilated, the alternate ones cuspidate_ on each side of
the anther.--Moist meadows and fields; a vile weed eastward. June. (Nat.
from Eu.)
3. NOTHOSCORDUM, Kunth.
Flowers greenish or yellowish white. Capsule oblong-obovate, somewhat
lobed, obtuse, with the style obscurely jointed on the summit; cells
several-ovuled and -seeded. Filaments filiform, distinct, adnate at
base. Bulb tunicated, not alliaceous. Otherwise as in Allium. (Name from
[Greek: no/thos], _false_, and [Greek: sko/rdion], _garlic_.)
1. N. striatum, Kunth. Scape 1 deg. high or less; bulb small, often
bulbiferous at base; leaves narrowly linear; flowers few, on slender
pedicels, the segments narrowly oblong, 4--6'' long; ovules 4--7 in each
cell. (Allium striatum, _Jacq._)--Prairies and open woods, Va. to Ind.,
Neb., and southward.
4. ANDROSTEPHIUM, Torr.
Perianth funnel-form, the cylindrical tube equalling the somewhat
spreading limb or shorter; segments 1-nerved. Stamens 6, in one row upon
the throat; the filaments united to form an erect tubular crown, with
bifid lobes alternate with the oblong versatile anthers. Capsule
sessile, subglobose-triquetrous, beaked by the stout persistent style;
seeds large, few to several in each cell.--Scape and linear leaves from
a membranous- or fibrous-coated corm; pale lilac flowers umbellate;
pedicels not jointed; involucral bracts several. (Name from [Greek:
a)ne/r], for _stamen_, and [Greek: ste/phos], _crown_, referring to the
stamineal crown.)
1. A. violaceum, Torr. Scape 2--6' high; flowers 8--12'' long or more,
usually exceeding the stout pedicels, the tube nearly as long as the
limb; crown scarcely shorter than the limb.--Kan. to Tex.
5. CAMASSIA, Lindl.
Perianth of 6 colored (blue or purple) spreading sepals, 3--7-nerved,
slightly irregular, mostly deciduous; the 6 filiform filaments at their
base. Style thread-like, the base persistent. Capsule oblong or obovate,
3-angled, loculicidal, 3-valved, with several black roundish seeds in
each cell.--Scape and linear leaves from a coated bulb; the flowers in a
simple raceme, mostly bracted, on jointed pedicels. (From the native
Indian name _quamash_ or _camass_.)
1. C. Fraseri, Torr. (EASTERN CAMASS. WILD HYACINTH.) Scape 1 deg. high or
more; leaves keeled; raceme elongated; bracts longer than the pedicels;
sepals pale blue, 3-nerved, 4--7'' long; capsule acutely
triangular-globose. (Scilla Fraseri, _Gray_.)--Rich ground, W. Penn. to
Minn. and E. Kan., and in the mountains to Ga.
6. ORNITHOGALUM, Tourn. STAR-OF-BETHLEHEM.
Perianth of 6 colored (white) spreading 3--7-nerved sepals. Filaments 6,
flattened-awl-shaped. Style 3-sided; stigma 3-angled. Capsule
membranous, roundish-angular, with few dark and roundish seeds in each
cell, loculicidal.--Scape and linear channelled leaves from a coated
bulb. Flowers corymbed, bracted; pedicels not jointed. (An ancient
whimsical name from [Greek: o)/rnis], _a bird_, and [Greek: ga/la],
_milk_.)
O. UMBELLATUM, L. Scape 4--9' high; flowers 5--8, on long and spreading
pedicels; sepals green in the middle on the outside.--Escaped from
gardens. (Nat. from Eu.)
O. NUTANS, L. Scape 1 deg. high or more; flowers 5 or 6, large (1' long),
nodding on very short pedicels; filaments very broad.--Rarely escaped
from gardens; Penn. (Adv. from Eu.)
7. MUSCARI, Tourn. GRAPE-HYACINTH.
Perianth globular or ovoid, minutely 6-toothed (blue). Stamens 6,
included; anthers short, introrse. Style short. Capsule loculicidal,
with 2 black angular seeds in each cell.--Leaves and scape (in early
spring) from a coated bulb; the small flowers in a dense raceme,
sometimes musk-scented (whence the name).
M. BOTRYOIDES, Mill. Leaves linear, 3--4'' broad; flowers globular
(1--11/2'' long), deep blue, appearing like minute grapes.--Escaped from
gardens into copses and fence-rows. (Adv. from Eu.)
M. RACEMOSUM, Mill. Leaves 1--11/2'' broad; flowers oblong-urceolate,
2--21/2'' long, deep blue, fragrant.--Rare escape, Md. and Penn. (Adv.
from Eu.)
8. HEMEROCALLIS, L. DAY-LILY.
Perianth funnel-form, lily-like; the short tube enclosing the ovary, the
spreading limb 6-parted; the 6 stamens inserted on its throat. Anthers
as in Lilium, but introrse. Filaments and style long and thread-like,
declined and ascending; stigma simple. Capsule (at first rather fleshy)
3-angled, loculicidally 3-valved, with several black spherical seeds in
each cell.--Showy perennials, with fleshy-fibrous roots; the long and
linear keeled leaves 2-ranked at the base of the tall scapes, which bear
at the summit several bracted and large yellow flowers; these collapse
and decay after expanding for a single day (whence the name, from
[Greek: e(me/ra], _a day_, and [Greek: ka/llos], _beauty_.)
H. FULVA, L. (COMMON DAY-LILY.) Inner divisions (petals) of the tawny
orange perianth wavy and obtuse.--Roadsides, escaped from gardens (Adv.
from Eu.)
9. YUCCA, L. BEAR-GRASS. SPANISH BAYONET.
Perianth of 6 petal-like (white or greenish) oval or oblong and acute
flat sepals, withering-persistent, the 3 inner broader, longer than the
6 stamens. Stigmas 3, sessile. Capsule oblong, somewhat 6-sided,
3-celled, or imperfectly 6-celled by a partition from the back, fleshy,
at length loculicidally 3-valved from the apex. Seeds very many in each
cell, flattened.--Stems woody, either very short or rising into thick
and columnar palm-like trunks, bearing persistent rigid linear or
sword-shaped leaves, and an often ample compound panicle or branched
raceme of showy flowers. (The native Haytian name for the root of the
Cassava-plant.)
1. Y. angustifolia, Pursh. Caudex none or very short; leaves straight
_very stiff and pungent_, 1/2--2 deg. long by 1--6'' wide, filiferous on the
margin; _raceme mostly simple, nearly sessile_ (1--4 deg. long); flowers
11/2--21/2' wide; stigmas green, shorter than the ovary; capsule 6-sided (3'
long); _seeds 5--6'' broad_.--Dak. to Iowa, Kan., and N. Mex. May,
June.
2. Y. filamentosa, L. (ADAM'S NEEDLE.) Caudex 1 deg. high or less, from a
running rootstock; leaves numerous, coriaceous, more or less tapering to
a short point, rough on the back, 11/2--2 deg. long by 1--3' wide, filiferous
on the margin; _panicle pyramidal, densely flowered, on a stout
bracteate scape, 4--9 deg. high_; flowers large; stigmas pale, elongated;
capsule 11/2' long; _seeds 3'' broad_.--Near the coast, Md. to Fla. and
La. July. Very variable.
10. CONVALLARIA, L. LILY OF THE VALLEY.
Perianth bell-shaped (white), 6-lobed, deciduous; the lobes recurved.
Stamens 6, included, inserted on the base of the perianth; anthers
introrse. Ovary 3-celled, tapering into a stout style; stigma
triangular. Ovules 4--6 in each cell. Berry few-seeded (red).--A low
perennial herb, glabrous, stemless, with slender running rootstocks,
sending up from a scaly-sheathing bud 2 oblong leaves, with their long
sheathing petioles enrolled one within the other so as to appear like a
stalk, and an angled scape bearing a one-sided raceme of pretty and
sweet-scented nodding flowers. (Altered from _Lilium convallium_, the
popular name.)
1. C. majalis, L.--High mountains of Va. to S. C. Apparently identical
with the European LILY OF THE VALLEY of the gardens.
11. POLYGONATUM, Tourn. SOLOMON'S SEAL.
Perianth cylindrical-oblong, 6-lobed at the summit; the 6 stamens
inserted on or above the middle of the tube, included; anthers introrse.
Ovary 3-celled. with 2--6 ovules in each cell; style slender, deciduous
by a joint; stigma obtuse or capitate, obscurely 3-lobed. Berry
globular, black or blue; the cells 1--2-seeded.--Perennial herbs, with
simple erect or curving stems, from creeping thick and knotted
rootstocks, naked below, above bearing nearly sessile or half-clasping
nerved leaves, and axillary nodding greenish flowers; pedicels jointed
near the flower. (The ancient name, composed of [Greek: poly/s], _many_,
and [Greek: go/ny], _knee_, alluding to the numerous joints of the
rootstock and stem.)--Ours are alternate-leaved species, the stem terete
or scarcely angled when fresh.
1. P. biflorum, Ell. (SMALLER SOLOMON'S SEAL.) Glabrous, except the
ovate-oblong or lance-oblong _nearly sessile leaves_, which are commonly
_minutely pubescent as well as pale or glaucous underneath_; stem
slender (1--3 deg. high); _peduncles 1--3- but mostly 2-flowered_; perianth
4--6'' long; _filaments papillose-roughened_, inserted toward the summit
of the perianth.--Wooded hillsides, N. Brunswick to Fla., west to Minn.,
E. Kan., and Tex.
2. P. giganteum, Dietrich. (GREAT S.) _Glabrous throughout_; stem stout
and mostly tall (2--7 deg. high), terete; _leaves ovate, partly clasping_
(3--8' long), or the upper oblong and nearly sessile, many-nerved;
_peduncles several-(2--8-) flowered_, jointed below the flower; flowers
5--9'' long; _filaments smooth and naked_, or nearly so, inserted on the
middle of the tube.--Meadows and river-banks, N. Eng. to Va., west to
the Rocky Mts. June.
12. ASPARAGUS, Tourn. ASPARAGUS.
Perianth 6-parted, spreading above; the 6 stamens on its base; anthers
introrse. Style short; stigma 3-lobed. Berry spherical, 3-celled; the
cells 2-seeded.--Perennials, with much-branched stems from thick and
matted rootstocks, and small greenish-yellow axillary flowers on jointed
pedicels. The narrow, commonly thread-like, so-called leaves are really
branchlets, acting as leaves, clustered in the axils of little scales
which are the true leaves. (The ancient Greek name.)
A. OFFICINALIS, L. (GARDEN ASPARAGUS.) Herbaceous, tall, bushy-branched;
leaves thread-like.--A frequent escape from gardens. June. (Adv. from
Eu.)
13. SMILACINA, 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. racemosa, Desf. (FALSE SPIKENARD.) Minutely downy (1--3 deg. 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. stellata, Desf. Plant (1 deg. 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. trifolia, 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. MAIANTHEMUM, 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 [Greek: a)/nthemon], _a flower_.)
1. M. Canadense, 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. STREPTOPUS, 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 [Greek: strepto/s], _twisted_, and [Greek: pou~s], _foot_
or _stalk_).
1. S. amplexifolius, DC. Stem 2--3 deg. 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. roseus, 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. DISPORUM, 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 [Greek: di/s], _double_, and
[Greek: spora/], _seed_, in allusion to the 2 ovules in each cell.)
1. D. lanuginosum, 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 (1/2' 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. CLINTONIA, 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._)
1. C. borealis, Raf. Scape and leaves 5--8' long; _umbel 3--6-flowered_;
perianth greenish-yellow, somewhat downy outside (3--4'' long); berry
ovoid, blue; _ovules 20 or more_.--Cold moist woods, Lab. to N. C., west
to Minn.
2. C. umbellata, Torr. Flowers half the size of the last, white,
speckled with green or purplish dots; _umbel many-flowered_; berry
globular, black; _ovules 2 in each cell_.--Rich woods, in the
Alleghanies from N. Y. to Ga.
18. UVULARIA, L. BELLWORT.
Perianth narrowly bell-shaped, lily-like, deciduous; the 6 distinct
sepals spatulate-lanceolate, acuminate, obtusely gibbous at base, with a
deep honey-bearing groove within bordered on each side by a callus-like
ridge. Stamens much shorter, barely adherent to their base; anthers
linear, much longer than the filaments, adnate and extrorse, but the
long narrow cells opening laterally. Style deeply 3-cleft; the
divisions stigmatic along the inner side. Capsule truncate, coriaceous,
3-lobed, loculicidal at the summit. Seeds few in each cell, obovoid,
with a thin white aril.--Stems rather low, terete, from a short
rootstock with fleshy roots, naked or scaly at base, forking above,
bearing oblong perfoliate flat and membranaceous leaves with smooth
margins, and yellowish drooping flowers, in spring, solitary on terminal
peduncles. (Name "from the flowers hanging like the _uvula_, or
palate.")
1. U. perfoliata, L. _Glaucous throughout_, 1/2--11/2 deg. high, with 1--3
leaves below the fork; _leaves glabrous_, oblong- to ovate-lanceolate,
acute; _perianth-segments granular-pubescent within_ (8--16'' long);
_stamens shorter than the styles; tip of the connective acuminate_;
cells of the capsule with 2 dorsal ridges and 2-beaked at the
apex.--Rich woods, N. Eng. to Dak., and southward.
2. U. grandiflora, Smith. Yellowish-green, _not glaucous_; stem naked or
with a single leaf below the fork; _leaves whitish-pubescent beneath_,
usually somewhat acuminate; _perianth-segments smooth within_ or nearly
so (12--18'' long); _stamens exceeding the styles, obtusely tipped_;
capsule obtusely lobed. (U. flava, _Smith_.)--Rich woods, Canada to
Ga., west to Minn. and Mo.
19. OAKESIA, Watson.
Flowers resembling those of Uvularia, but the segments obtuse or
acutish, carinately gibbous and without ridges within. Capsule
membranous, elliptical, acutish at each end or shortly stipitate,
triquetrous and acutely winged, very tardily dehiscent. Seeds globose,
with a very tumid spongy rhaphe.--Stem acutely angled, from a slender
creeping rootstock, with sessile clasping leaves scabrous on the margin,
and 1 or 2 flowers terminal on slender peduncles but soon appearing
opposite to the leaves by the growth of the branches. (Dedicated to
_William Oakes_.)
1. O. sessilifolia, Watson. Leaves lance-oblong, acute at each end,
pale, glaucous beneath, sessile or partly clasping; sepals 7--12'' long;
anthers obtuse; capsule short-stipitate, 6--10'' long. (Uvularia
sessilifolia, _L._)--Low woods, N. Brunswick to Fla., west to Minn.,
Neb. and Ark.
2. O. puberula, Watson. Slightly puberulent; leaves bright green both
sides and shining, oval, mostly rounded at base, with rougher edges;
styles separate to near the base, not exceeding the acute anthers;
capsule not stipitate, 10--12'' long. (Uvularia puberula,
_Michx._)--Mountains, Va. to S. C.
20. ERYTHRONIUM, 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 [Greek:
e)rythro/s], _red_.)