JKPHODEi. 11 O R T U S J A M A I C E N S rs. SS 



ASPARAGUS. ASPARAGUS. 



Cl. 6, OP. 1. Ile.vandria monogynia. Nat. or. SarmcnfacetP. 



This takes its name from a Greek ward, signifying a yotiiig shoot, before it unfolds 

 its leaves. 



Gen. char. No calyx ; corolla sis pt>ia]leil, cohering by the claws, oblong, and 

 caaipanulakod ; the petals rctlex at the extremities ; stamina fiiiibrm capiliauientF,, 

 inserted into the petals, erect, and half the length of the corolla ; antliers round- 

 ish ; germen trigonal, s-tyie short, stigma a prominent point ; the fruit a globose 

 three-celled berry ; seeik two, round, angular inside, sinooth. There are.seve-- 

 ral species andTariedes, the most useful is -the 



OFF ICINALIS. OmcrNAL. . 



Stem herbaceous, round, erect ; leaves setaceous ; stipHlesalilve. 



The root is perennial, large, composed of many succulent round bulbs, forming a 

 Icind of transvei-se tfiber, wheiice spring nimierous stems. The pro]iagation of this 

 useful plant is from seeds. It thrives well ir> Jamaica, and will grow almost any where,. 

 and a bed of it once. established will siipplya family for many yc;ws, wuh frequent cut- 

 ting and manuring. The seeds iire collected by bruismg tlie berries in any vessel, and 

 afterwards washing^off the pulp. They sh&uld then be dried and sown in small trenches 

 well manured. I'liey must be kept dear of weeds, and, when tlie stalks are dry, a lit- 

 tle rotten dung siioukl be thrown over the bed. When they grow up again, they will 

 be fit to cut lor the talile. They produce goodruttings, in this inland, twelve months 

 after they are sown. The ro(jts of the asparagus have a bitterish mucilaginous taste, in- 

 clining to sweetness : the truit hasniuch the same kind of taste ; the young shoots are 

 more agreeable tliEH either. Asparagus promotes appetite, batahbrUs lili.le nourish- 

 ment. It gives a strong ill smell to the urine, in a little time after eating it, and, for 

 this reason, chiefly, is supposed to be diuretic ; but neither the roots, nor the staiks 

 when branched, have thisetiect : it is likewise esteemed aperient and deobstruent. 



M. Roliquet has lately, it is said, discovered a new vegetable principle in asparagus j 

 it is a triple salt of lime and ammonia, of which the acid is unknown. Tins chemist, 

 and M. Vauquelin, have found a substance, in the juice of this vegetable, anaiagous. 

 to manna. 



ASPHODEL, OR KING'S. SPEAR. ASPHODELUS. 



Cl. 6, OR. 1. Hexandriamonogytiia. Nat. or. Covonarue. 



tjEN. CHAR. ^Thcre is no calyx ; the corolla is raonopetaious six- parted ; the nec- 

 tarium consists of six small valves, forming a globe ; the stamina subulate, bowed, 

 inserted lato the valves of the nectary, alternately shoi'ter ; anthers oblong, in- 

 cumbent ; gennen roundisli, style subulate, stigma truncate ; the capsule is Heshy, 

 globose, three-lobed and three-celled ; seeds numerous, triangular, and gibbous 

 i)n one side. There are three species, only one of wiiich has been introduced. 



ramosus. branckv. 

 Stenx naked, leaves ensifonn, keeled, polished, 



^ 2 Brancky 



