404 Aristolochiaceae Aristolochia 



2. Asarum canadense L. Canada Wildginger. Map 822. Infrequent 

 to rare throughout the state or absent from some areas. It is found in 

 habitats similar to those of the preceding species but in more protected 

 situations; hence it is restricted more to deep ravines and steep wooded 

 slopes. The length and position of the acuminate portion of the calyx 

 lobes are variable. In Indiana the length of the acuminate part varies 

 from 5-20 mm and the calyx lobe and its appendage may vary from erect to 

 spreading or spreading with the tips incurved. The whole plant in this 

 and the preceding species varies greatly in size and the flowers vary in 

 proportion. As a rule, the more vigorous the plant the longer the calyx 

 lobes. All of our reports for Asarum canadense var. acuminatum Ashe I 

 am referring to this species. 



N. B. to Man., southw. to N. C, Mo., and Kans. 



2174. ARISTOLOCHIA [Tourn] L. 



Erect herbs up to 6 dm high 1. A. Serpentaria. 



Long, twining, woody vines 2. A. tomentosa. 



1. Aristolochia Serpentaria L. Virginia Snakeroot. Map 823. Infre- 

 quent to frequent in moist, rich woods throughout the state except the 

 northwestern corner. This herb has been much used in medicine as a 

 bitter tonic since pioneer times. The fact that the tonic was prepared by 

 adding the roots to whiskey may have added to its popularity. 



Conn, to Mich., southw. to Fla. and Tex. 



2. Aristolochia tomentosa Sims Woolly Pipe-vine. Map 824. Local 

 in the Lower Wabash Valley from the southwestern corner of Knox County 

 southward. It is rather frequent along the lower course of White River 

 in both Gibson and Knox Counties. South of Coffee Bayou in Gibson 

 County it is rare until Point Township in Posey County is reached where 

 it again is local. It climbs to great heights on bushes and small trees. I 

 have seen the dead trunks of large trees shingled with it to a great height. 

 Ridgway (Proc. Nat. Mus. 17: 421. 1894) records the measurements of a 

 vine found in the Lower Wabash Valley as "83 feet long and 10 inches in 

 circumference." I measured a leaf in Posey County, the blade of which 

 was 10 inches wide and 9 inches long. We have had 'it planted for years 

 as a porch trellis and it serves this purpose well but it spreads vigorously 

 by root suckers. 



N. C, Ind., 111., and Mo., southw. to Fla. and Okla. 



77. POLYGONACEAE Lindl. Buckwheat Family 

 Sepals 6, the 3 inner ones much longer and enlarged in fruit (except in Rumex 

 Acetosella) ; flowers greenish yellow, frequently tinged with red; stigmas fringed. 



2195. Rumex, p. 405. 



Sepals 5, sometimes 4, nearly equal in length; flowers purple, pink, white, greenish 

 white, greenish pink or greenish yellow in a few species (these with linear leaves) ; 

 stigmas not fringed. 

 Flowers in fascicles in the bracts (generally called sheaths or ocreae in this family) 

 or solitary; if solitary, the flowers not pink and the leaves linear. 



Achenes enclosed by the calyx lobes; if exserted, the leaves linear 



2201. Polygonum, p. 407. 



