WHITE 



GINSENG. 



Aralia quinqiiefolia. Ginseng Family. 



Root. — Large and spindle-shaped ; often forked. Stem. — About one foot 

 high. Leaves. — Three in a whorl ; divided into leaflets. Flowers. — Green- 

 ish-white ; in a simple umbel. Fruit. — Bright red ; berry-like. 



This plant is well known by name, but is yearly becoming 

 more scarce. The aromatic root is so greatly valued in China for 

 its supposed power of combating fatigue and old age that it can 

 only be gathered by order of the emperor. The forked specimens 

 are believed to be the most powerful, and their fancied likeness 

 to the human form has obtained for the plant the Chinese title 

 oi Ji?i-chen (from which ginseng is a corruption), and the Indian 

 one of Garan-foguen, both which, strangely enough, are said 

 to signify, like a man. The Canadian Jesuits first began to ship 

 the roots of the American species to China, where they sold at 

 about five dollars a pound. At present they are said to com- 

 mand about one-fifth of that price in the home market. 



SPIKENARD. 



Aralia racemosa. Ginseng Family. 



Root. — Large and aromatic. Stem. — Often tall and widely branched, 

 leafy. Leaves. — Large ; divided into somewhat heart-shaped, toothed, and 

 pointed leaflets. Flozvers. — Greenish- white ; small ; in clusters in early 

 summer. Fruit. — Dark purple, red, or black ; berry-like. 



The spikenard is conspicuous chiefly in autumn, when its 

 partially ripened clusters of glass-like fruit are sure to excite, by 

 their rich beauty, the curiosity of the passer-by. 



BRISTLY SARSAPARILLA. 



Aralia hispida. Ginseng Family. 



Stem. — One to two feet high ; bristly, leafy, terminating in a stalk bear- 

 ing several umbels of small white flowers. Leaves. — Divided into ovate or 

 oval leaflets. Flozvers. — White, small, in roundish clusters. 



In June or July, in open, somewhat rocky or sandy places, 

 the bristly sarsaparilla is conspicuous by reason of its pretty 



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