BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 83 
RHIZOMATA—RHIZOMES. 
Tuese differ from other roots by growing part- 
ly above ground and in a horizontal direction, 
having a succession of joints, forming scales and 
producing axillary buds, which send up one to 
twelve shoots; the under side of the rhizome 
sends numberless rootlets into the ground. 
There are one or two exceptions to the rule in 
the plants having such roots—for example, the 
American hellebores. 
Rhizomes are known technically as subterra- 
nean stems, because they send up shoots capable 
of bearing fruit and seed. 
Aralia Racemosa, American Spikenard.— 
Natural order Araliacee. Found growing gen- 
erally throughout the North American woods; 
the name is of unknown derivation. This pe- 
rennial, herbaceous in character, has widely 
spread branches to the main stem, bearing its 
white flowers in racemes, with cordate leaves 
compound as to the shape and very pubescent. 
The root when dry is from 4 to 6 inches (1 to 15 
centimeters) long, with many rootlets. The 
upper surface of the rhizome presents many 
scars or facets where the stems were inserted. 
