ARISTOLOCHIA, CV. ARISTOLOCHIACE. 465 
SUBCLASS III. APETALSA. 
Corolla none; the floral envelops consisting of a single series of 
organs (calyx) only, or sometimes wholly wanting. 
Orver CV. ARISTOLOCHIACE &.—Brmraworrs. 
Plants herbaceous or shrubby, the latter often climbing. Wood without concentric layers. 
Lvs. alternate, simple, petiolate, often with a stipule opposite the leaf, or exstipulate. 
Fis. perfect, axillary, solitary, brown or of some dull color. 
Cal.—Tube adherent to the ovary, segments 3, valvate in estivation. 
Sta. 6—12, epigynous or adhering to the base of the short and thick styles. 
Ova. 3—6-celled. Stig. radiate, as many as the cells of the ovary. 
Fr. capsule or berry, 3—6-celled_many-seeded. 
Embryo minute, in the base of fleshy albumen. 
Genera 8, species 130, most abundant in the tropical countries of S. America, and thinly diffused through- 
out the northern hemisphere. 
Properties.—Tonics and stimulants. Both the following genera are successfully employed in medicine. 
Conspectus of the Genera. 
§ equal. Asarum. 1 
Calyx limb ? unequal. Aristolochia. 2 
1, ASARUM. 
Said to be from the Gr. a, not, and ce:pw, to bind; because not used in garlands. 
Calyx campanulate ; stamens 12, placed upon the ovary; anthers 
adnate to the middle of the filaments; style very short; stigma 6- 
rayed ; capsule 6-celled, crowned with the calyx— Herbs with creeping 
rhizomas and 1\—2 lvs. on each branch. Fis. solitary. 
1, A. CanaDENse. Wild Ginger. Asarabacca. 
Iwas. 2, broad-reniform ; cal. woolly, deeply 3-cleft, the segments reflected. 
—7 Asmall, acaulescent plant, growing in rich, shady soil, Can. to Ga. and 
W. States. The leaves are radical, large, 2—4’ by 3—5’, with a deep sinus at 
base, on long, hairy stalks, and having a soft, velvet-like surface. The flower 
rows from between the bases of the leaf-stalks, solitary, on a nodding pedun- 
cle, and is close to the ground, sometimes even buried just beneath the surface. 
Calyx purplish, of 3, broad, long-pointed divisions abruptly spreading. The 
12 filaments bear the anthers on their sides just below the extremity. The root 
or rhizoma is aromatic, and has been considered useful in whooping-cough. 
May—July. 
2. A. Vircinicum. Michx. Sweet-scented Asarabacca. 
Lvs. solitary, orbicular-ovate, glabrous, coriaceous, cordate, entire, obtuse ; 
ji. subsessile ;. cal. short, subcampanulate, glabrous externally —Grows in light 
soils among rocks, N. J. to Ga. A low, stemless plant, very similar in habit to 
the preceding. Each branch of the rhizoma bears a terminal leaf and a flower. 
Leaf 3—4’ diam., very smooth, clouded with spost, the petiole 2 or 3 times 
longer, lobes at base rounded and nearly closed. Flower many times shorter 
than the petiole. Calyx segments obtuse, of a dusky purple, greenish outside. Apr. 
2 ARISTOLOCHIA. 
Gr. aptsros, excellent, Xo yes, pertaining to parturition ; alluding to the medicinal properties. 
Calyx ligulate, with an inflated base and an unequal border; an- 
thers 6, subsessile upon the style; stigma 6-cleft; capsule 6-celled, 
many-seeded.—St. erect or twining. 
1. A. SeRPENTARIA. Virginia Snake-root. 
St. erect, flexuous ; lvs. oblong, cordate, acuminate ; ped. radical ; lip of the 
cal. janceolate-—A curious vegetable of low growth, in hedges and thickets, 
Penn. tolll.andLa. Stem 8—13! high, subsimple, jointed, herbaceous. Leaves 
_ 2-4’ by {—2’, rarely larger, petioles 3-9” in length. Flowers few, near the 
