Tab. 7168. 

 as arum geophilum. 



Native of Southern China. 



Nat. Ord. Akistolochie.*:. 

 Genus Asarum, Linn.; (Benth. et Hooh.f. Gen. PI., vol. iii. p. 122.) 



Asarum geophilum ; sparse hirsutuin, caudice robusto repente, foliis alternis 

 craase petiolatis rotundato-cordatis obtusis ciliatis laride viridibus Baperne 

 nervis albidis reticulatis, floribus axillaribus, pedunculis crassis decurvis, 

 ovario infero late hemispherico, calycis tubo brevi intus hirsuto, ore 

 breviter annulato, limbo 3-lobo atro-purpure albo pnnctato molliter 

 setuloso aureo marginato, lobis ovato-rotundatis antico majore, antheris 

 oblongis cormectivo producto obfcuso, stylo brevi alte 6-sulcato, stigmatibus 

 brevibus decurrentibus. 



A. geophilum, Hemsl. in Gcird. Citron. 1890, vol. i. p. 422. 



Under Asarum caudigerum, figured in plate 7126 of this 

 work, I alluded to the many accessions to this curious 

 genus which had been discovered of late years in China, 

 from which country alone Mr. Hemsley informs me that 

 eight species are known. Amongst these species there are 

 very great differences both in mode of growth and floral 

 structure. Thus A. geophilum differs from its congeners in 

 its elongate branching rhizome with distant alternate 

 leaves ; A. caudigerum in its binate leaves, with pairs of 

 large green sheaths (cataphylla) at the base, in the caudate 

 perianth lobes and triseriate stamina ; A. macrantha (Plate 

 7022) in its crowded large flowers, and the mouth of the 

 perianth being almost closed by a horizontal lamina, as in 

 its near ally A. virginicum (Heterotropis asaroides, Tab. 

 3746). There are further great modifications in the forms 

 of the stamens and styles in the various species ; and in the 

 ovary which may be wholly inferior or almost superior. 



On these and other modifications A. Braun and Duchar- 

 tre have laid the foundation of four sections of the genus 

 (see DC. Prodr. vol. xv. pt. i. p. 423), which are for the most 

 part natural, but which will require considerable modifica- 

 tion, and the addition of others, to receive the numerous 

 species which have to be added to the ten described in 

 the Prodromus. 



A?K1L 1st, 1891. 



