PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS 



CLASS I. VASCULARES. Flowering Plants, 



Sub-class I. EXOGEJ^.T.. Dicotijledones. 



TRIBE I. ANGIOSPERMiE, 



(Or having seeds enclosed in a pericarp or covering.) 



1. Polypetaloiis, Jlpetalous, and Achlamijdeous Plants. 



ORDER 1. ARALIACE^. The Aralia Tribe. 



Flowers in the form of an umbel ; leaves compound ; fruit 

 a berry ; permanent calyx standing on the germ or ovary ; 

 stamens 5 or 6, 10 or 12, rising within the border of the calyx or 

 flower-cup. 



This is a small order, embracing, in Massachusetts, only two 

 genera and five species, though the plants of the order are found 

 widely scattered over North America, and in China, Japan, New 

 Zealand, &ic. Some of them are shrubby, while ours are herba- 

 ceous. The plants possess no properties of much interest. 



1. Aralia. L. 5. 5. 



The origin of the name is unknown, but a plant of this name 

 was first sent to Europe from Quebec in 1764. Loudon. 



Calyx entire, or 5-toothed ; corol 5-petalled, small ; stamens 

 5 or more, 5 spreading styles ; berry 5 or 10-seeded, crowned 

 with the styles ; small involucres often on the umbels. 



1. A. racemosa. L. Spikenard. Branched, herbaceous 

 stem ; petioles 3-parted, with ternate or quinate divisions, and 



