Common Name: FALSE-HELLEBORE FAMILY
Habit: Perennial herb, from rhizome or bulb, or rhizomes ending in weakly developed bulbs, scapose or not. Leaf: alternate, whorled, or mostly basal and spirally arranged, deciduous after 1 year or not. Inflorescence: raceme, panicle, or flowers 1. Flower: perianth parts 6, in 2 petal-like whorls or of sepals and petals, free or fused below, +- spreading; stamens 6, from perianth, anthers attached at base or near middle; ovary superior or partly inferior, chambers 3, styles 3, persistent. Fruit: capsule, loculicidal or septicidal.
Genera In Family: 10 genera, 130 species: northern hemisphere. Note: W North America Zigadenus moved to Toxicoscordion.
eFlora Treatment Author: Dale W. McNeal, except as noted
Scientific Editor: Dale W. McNeal, Thomas J. Rosatti.

Stem: +- scapose, simple or branched. Leaf: mostly basal, grass-like; cauline 1--2, much reduced; deciduous after 1 year. Flower: nodding, unisexual or not; perianth parts free or +- fused at base, glands 0; filaments wider at base, anthers attached near middle, 1-chambered; ovary partly inferior (at base), ovoid. Fruit: septicidal. Seed: oblong, coat loose, winged at both ends.
Species In Genus: 5 species: North America, Asia. Etymology: (Greek: narrow flower)
Reference: Zomlefer et al. 2006 Aliso 22:566--578
Unabridged Reference: Zomlefer, W. B., et al. 2006. A synopsis of Melanthiaceae with focus on character evolution in tribe Melanthieae. Aliso 22:566--578