« Uvularia perfoliata.
Root white, palmate, divisions cylindrical, garnished with a few
yellowish-white radicles. Stem erect, flexuose, sheathed below with
lavender purple sheaths. Leaves yellow-green above, glaucous
underneath, petiolated, ovate, acute, three-nerved, striated, the
lowest one narrower than the others, and often cordate at base;
and that one at the point of bifurcation of the stem, broader than
the rest. Flower solitary, of six, lanceolate, sulphur-yellow, acute
petals, pulverulently spotted with orange-yellow internally. Nectariferous
furrow, a long narrow line. Pistil terminated by a trifurcate
stigma. Stamens half as long as the petals, convolute. Anthers long,
about the length of the filaments, bursting longitudinally at the inside
of each cell, yellow, each tipped with a cartilaginous, awl-shaped,
green point; filament broad, one-eighth of an inch long. Capsule
truncate, trigonous. Seeds numerous. Grows in shady, damp woods,
along the margins of rills and other moist ground, from Canada to
Georgia, preferring loose soil. Flowers in early May.
The genus Uvularia was established and named by Linnseus, but
the precise derivation of the term cannot now be ascertained. As
Uvularia is an old synonym for Ruscus hypoglossum, on account of
the diminutive leaves not unlike the uvula of the human thoat, lying
over the inflorescence of that plant, Dr. Smith conjectures that the
generic term was thence derived.
The North American species are four or five in number. There
is some confusion relative to the present plant and the flava of
Uvularia perfoliata. 115
Smith, which appears to be an ideal species, or at most, a mere variety
of the present. Pursh quotes the figure No. 955, Bot. Mag. for
his flava, and that figure undoubtedly refers to the present species.
It certainly does not agree with his own description quoted from
Smith, in which the leaves are said to be obtuse, while in fact the
figure properly represents them as quite acute. What plant Pursh
had in view in his description of U. perfoliata, it is difficult to decide.
It seems probable that U. perfoliata and flava of Smith refer
to one plant, that which is here figured. Mr. Elliot quotes Pursh for
the U. flava, and as he has evidently not seen it himself, is unaware
that it is his own perfoliata, which he describes as having leaves
“ rather acute.”
Fig. 1. The plant in flower, of its natural size, severed from Fig. 3.
s. The lower part of the stem and root.
3. A petal.
4. Germ, style, and stigma.
5. A stamen.