ARISTOLOCHIACEif:— BIRTHWORT 



FAMILY 



WILD GINGER 



Asarum Canadense 



A 



Asarum, an ancient name of obscure derivation. 



A stemless perennial, found in rich, moist woods, where 

 often it forms large beds of bright-green, velvety leaves. 



New Brunswick to Manitoba, 

 south to North Carolina and 

 west to Missouri and Kansas. 

 Abundant in northern Ohio. 

 April-June. 



Rootstock. — Aromatic, creep- 

 ing, bearing two or three scales, 

 then one or two kidney-shaped 

 leaves, then on with more scales 

 and more leaves. 



Leaves. — Shining, covered with 

 soft hairs, broad, kidney-shaped, 

 on long, hairy petioles, usually 

 in pairs with the flower between. 



Calyx. — Slightly angular, bell- 

 shaped, hairy, thick, and fleshy, 

 with three dark, reddish purple 



lobes, pointed and reflexed; the calyx tube grown fast to 



the ovary. 



Corolla. — Wanting. 



Stamens. — Twelve; filaments slender; anthers short. 



SO 



Wild Ginger. Asarum 

 Canadense 



