150 ASARUM CANADENSE. 
On plucking the plant, the two leaves are found 
connected below, with an obscure flower in their 
fork, which had rested on the surface of the 
ground, or been buried. under the decayed leaves 
and soil. Its flowering time is from May to July. 
This plant, from the number of its stamens, 
is placed by Linneeus and Michaux in the class 
Dodecandria. Pursh, who has omitted this class 
in his Flora, has transferred the Asarums to Gy- 
nandria, from the circumstance that the stamens 
are inserted on the germ. This place however is 
not better suited to the. Asarum, than to a multi- 
tude of other plants whose germ is inferior. _ 
_-Linneeus’ natural order for this plant is Sar- 
~ mentacew and Jussieu’s Aristolochiw. /4)'/% /ivecone 1 
Generic character. Calya: three or four cleft, 
superior ; corolla none; anthers growing to the 
middle of the filaments. Capsule coriaceous, 
_ Specific character. Leaves two, reniform ; 
calyx woolly, cleft to the base; its segments 
spreading at top. — ale . 
The root of the Asarum is creeping, fleshy, 
and somewhat jointed. Leaves kidney shaped, 
pubescent on both sides, with long, round, hairy 
petioles. Flower solitary, growing from the fork 
of the stem, on a pendulous hairy pedunele. Ca- 
