FLORA OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 161 



3. CAULOPHYLLUM Michx. 



1. Caulophyllum thalictroides (L.) Michx. Blue cohosh. 



Rich woods on the islands and banks of the upper Potomac; rare, Apr. Eastern 

 N. Amer. 



60. MENTSPERMACEAE. Moonseed Family. 



1. MENISPERMUM L. 



1. Menispermum canadense L. Moonseed. 



Low thickets, climbing over shrubs; along Rock Creek and the upper Potomac. 

 May-June; fr. autumn. Eastern N. Amer. 



61. MAGNOLIACEAE. Magnolia Family. 



Leaves oval or oblong, entire; flowers white, very fragrant; anthers facing in; fruit 

 an ovoid cone of rose-colored fleshy carpels, at length turning dark brown. 



1. MAGNOLIA. 

 Leaved lobed, truncate or broadly notched at the apex; flowers greenish yellow, 

 orange inside, slightlv fragrant; anthers facing out; fruit a dry oblong cone. 



2. LIRIODENDRON. 



1. MAGNOLIA L. 



1. Magnolia virginiana L. Swamp magnolia. 



Swamps and marshy placee bordering streams, especially along Indian Creek, from 



Beltsville to Kenilworth and southeastward. May- June. Mass. to Fla. ( M. glauca L.) 



The bark, rich in tannin, was used as a tonic and febrifuge, and its pleasant aromatic 



taste gave to the tree the name swamp sassafras. The fresh leaves and bark were 



used for dyeing. Also known as sweet bay. 



2. LIRIODENDRON L. 



1. Liriodendron tulipifera L. Tulip tree. 



Rich soil throughout the region. May-June. Eastern N. Amer. 



A magnificent tree, sometimes 40 meters high, valued for its timber, which is com- 

 monly called poplar or white wood. 



62. ANITONACEAE. Custard apple Family. 



1. ASIMINA Adans. 



1. Asimina triloba Dunal. Pawpaw. 



Moist woods; common, especially along the banks of streams. Apr-May. Southern 

 states, north to Lake Erie. 



Flowers appearing with the leaves, sometimes abnormal, with 9 instead of 6 petals, 

 these pale yellowish green at first, turning dark purple or maroon and increasing in 

 size. Fruit usually solitary, but sometimes in clusters of 2 to 5 from the same flower, 

 edible, turning brown or black after the first frost. A food-staple of the aborigines. 

 The generic name is derived from the Indian Assimin, whence the common name 

 Assiminier applied to the tree by the early French colonists. The English common 

 name is misleading, since the species is not even remotely related to the true pawpaw , 

 or papaya, of the tropics (Carica papaya). 



63. LAUKACEAE. Laurel Family. 



Plants trees or shrubs, with rough bark; leaves normally 3-lobed; staminate flowers 

 with 4-celled anthers; pistillate flowers with 6 imperfect stamens and an ovoid 



ovary; fruit blue - *• SASSAFRAS. 



69289—19 11 



