Aristolochia serpentaria. 45 
of supporting its reputation as an important, active and useful 
medicine. It belongs to a genus containing about forty-one species, 
twenty of which are shrubby and indigenous to the tropical regions 
of America. One of these is described by Baron Humboldt, as 
growing on the borders of Madalena, which produces flowers so 
large as to afford hats for children. Several species are endued 
with medicinal virtues, but none in so remarkable a degree as the 
present one. The Aristolochia rotunda, A. longa, A. Clematitis, were 
formerly admitted into the Materia Medica of the British pharma- 
copeias; and the last is still retained by the Edinburgh College. 
The generic term Aristolochia, (Birthwort,) is derived from a¢:c7es, 
and asxz.«, OF Aé¢xzeie, from the supposed use of the plants it comprises, 
in disorders attendant on parturition. ‘The species indigenous to 
North America, according to Muhlenberg, are four in number, A. 
sipho, (broad-leaved Birthwort, or Dutchman’s pipe ;) A. serpentaria, 
(snake-root,) A. hirsuta (hairy Birthwort,) and A. sagittata, (arrow- 
leaved Birthwort.) On an examination of the specimens of these 
species in the Muhlenbergian Herbarium, the serpentaria, hirsuta 
and sagittata, appeared very closely allied; and on tasting and 
smelling the roots I could perceive no difference in their sensible 
properties. The A. hirsuta, is the tomentosa of Mr. Nuttall ; and the 
A. sagittata, of which I have given an outline figure of two leaves 
from different specimens, (Fig. 6, 7.) is the hastata of Mr. Nuttall. 
This is hardly a distinct species, unless there be some well marked 
discrepancy in the flowers. 
* 
