538 ARISTOLOCHIACEAE. 
Five genera and about 200 species, of wide distribution in tropical and temperate regions. 
Acaulescent herbs; perianth regular, 3-lobed, persistent; filaments distinct. 1. Asarum. 
Leafy erect herbs or twining vines; perianth irregular, deciduous; anthers sessile, adnate to the 
stigma. 2. Aristolochia. 
1. ASARUM L. Sp. Pl. 442. 1753. 
Acaulescent perennial often clustered herbs, with slender aromatic branched rootstocks, 
thick fibrous-fleshy roots, long-petioled cordate ovate hastate or orbicular entire leaves, and 
solitary large peduncled purple-brown or mottled flowers, borne very near or upon the 
ground. Calyx campanulate or hemispheric, adnate to the ovary at least below, regularly 
3-lobed, the lobes valvate. Stamens 12, inserted on the ovary; filaments short, stout; con- 
nective of the anther-sacs more or less continued beyond them as a tip. Ovary partly or 
wholly inferior, 6-celled, the parietal placentae intruded; ovules numerous, horizontal or 
pendulous. Capsule coriaceous, crowned by the withering-persistent calyx and stamens, 
subglobose or hemispheric, at length bursting irregularly or longitudinally dehiscent. Seeds 
compressed. [The ancient name, meaning obscure. | 
About 15 species, natives of the north temperate zone. Besides the following, 3 others occur in 
western North America. The species are known as Asavabacca. 
Calyx-lobes lanceolate, acuminate; style 6-lobed; plant pubescent. 1. A. Canadense. 
Calyx-lobes short, rounded; styles 6, each 2-cleft; plants glabrous or nearly so. 
Anthers not pointed; leaves orbicular or broadly ovate; calyx campanulate. 
Calyx 6'’-8"’ long, contracted at the throat. 2. A. Virginicum. 
Calyx 8’’-20'’ long, not contracted at the throat. 3. A. macranthum. 
Anthers pointed; leaves or some of them hastate; calyx urn-shaped. 4. A. arifolium. 
1. Asarum Canadénse L. Wild 
Ginger. (Fig. 1277.) 
Asarum Canadense I,. Sp. Pl. 442. 1753. 
Finely pubescent, petioles rather slender, 6’— 
12’ long. Leaves commonly 2 to each plant, 
reniform, thin, short-pointed at the apex, 4’-7’ 
broad, dark green, not mottled, the basal sinus 
deep and open; flower slender-peduncled from 
between the bases of the petioles, 1’ broad or 
more when expanded, brownish purple; calyx 
ovoid, its tube completely adnate to the ovary, 
its lobes inflexed in the bud, ovate-lanceolate, 
acute or long-acuminate, spreading, equalling 
or longer than the tube; filaments longer than 
the anthers; style 6-lobed; stigmas radiating on 
the lobes, capsule 6’’-8’’ in diameter. 
In rich woods, New Brunswick to Manitoba, 
south to North Carolina, Missouri and Kansas. 
Ascends to 3000 ft. in Virginia. Called also Canada 
Snakeroot. April-May. Perhaps includes 2 species. 
Rootstocks with the flavor of ginger. 
2. Asarum Virginicum I. Virginia Asarum. (Fig. 1278.) 
Asarum Virginicum I,. Sp. Pl. 442. 1753. : : : 
Rootstocks slender, scaly, clustered, simple or 
branched. Leaves 1-3 to each plant or branch, 
coriaceous, glabrous, orbicular or broadly ovate, 
rounded at the apex, 114’-3’ wide, usually mot- 
tled, the basal sinus open or nearly closed; peti- 
oles pubescent along one side or glabrous, 3/—7’ 
long, ascending; flower short-peduncled, purple, 
6/’-8’ long; calyx campanulate, narrowed at 
the throat, its tube adnate to the lower part of 
the ovary, free above, the lobes ovate or nearly 
semicircular, about one-third as long as the 
tube; peduncle '4/-'%’ long; filaments much { 
shorter than the anthers; anthers not pointed; | 
styles 6, each 2-lobed, the stigmas sessile below 
the lobes; capsule hemispheric, about 4’’ high. 
In rich woods, Virginia and West Virginia to 
Georgia and South Carolina. Ascends to 2500 ft. in 
Virginia. May-June. 
