APETAL^ 213 



free or attached to the style. The anther-cells open 

 inwards or outwards. The ovary is four- to six- 

 celled, inferior, with many ovules in each loculus. 

 There are six styles, which have a stigmatic surface 

 on the inner face. 



The fruit is a capsule, septicidal, four- to six-valved, 

 or a berry. The seeds are horizontal, boat-shaped 

 or flattened. The small embryo is surrounded by 

 abundant fleshy endosperm. 



Honey is secreted at the base of the flower, the 

 tubular perianth opening by slits in Asarabacca, and 

 the flower is a trap-flower. The Birthwort has no 

 honey. The tubular perianth possesses hairs which 

 can be pushed inwards but not outwards, imprisoning 

 small flies. Pollination is much as in Cuckoo Pint in 

 such cases. Self-pollination is, however, apparently 

 possible and frequent. 



Several plants of this Order have been used in 

 medicine, having bitter, acrid properties and some 

 are aromatic. They also have tonic and stimulant 

 principles. Many of the species have been used as 

 antidotes for snake-bites. 



The wood consists of longitudinal plates with a 

 central pith, the plates not in concentric circles but 

 in wedges. 



Asarabacca {Asarum enropceum). 



This plant had the first Latin name applied because 

 it was not used in garlands. 



It is very doubtful whether this plant (like Birth- 



