A glabrous erect perennial herb with a thick rootstock and a leafy stem. Leaves nar-nowly linear. Flowers perfect, white, in a terminal panicle. Perianth withering-persistent, its segments lanceolate, separate, bearing 2 glands just above the narrowed base. Stamens free from the perianth segments and about equalling them in length; anthers cordate or rcniform. Capsule 3-lobed, 3-celled, the cavities not diverging, dehiscent to the base. Seeds numerous in each cavity, oblong or linear, angled. [Greek, referring to the two glands.]

A monotypic genus of southeastern North America.

1. Zygadenus Glaberrimus Michx. Large-Flowered Zygadenus

Fig. 1230

Z. glaberrimus Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 214. 1803.

Rather dark green, slightly glaucous, stem stout, 2°-4° tall, from a thick rootstock. Leaves 3"-6" wide, long-acuminate, channelled, often 1° long or more, the upper gradually smaller, appressed, passing into the short ovate bracts of the panicle; panicle 6'-12' long, its branches rather stout, stiff, ascending; pedicels stout, longer than the bractlets; flowers white, mostly perfect, 1'-1 1/2' broad, perianth-segments lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, narrowed into a short claw, bearing 2 orbicular glands; styles subulate; capsule narrowly ovoid, shorter than the perianth.

In swamps, Virginia to Florida, near the coast. July-Sept.