SCIENTIFIC AND POPULAR, 51 



a. A. eyiidnchica L. Europe to Asia Minor. Quinsy wort, Squin- 



ancv, Plerb-of-vine, Shepherd's Bedstraw. Plant formerly 

 used externally in quinsy. 



b. A. odorata L. Europe, adv. in U. S. Sweet Woodruff ( Wood- 



rip, Woodrowel, Woodrowe), Sweet Hairhoof, Sweet-grass, 

 Hay-plant, Mugwet, Mugget, Rock- weed, Star-gra'-s; Ger. 

 Waldmeister, Herzfreude, Sternleberkraut; Fr. Asp^rule. 

 Herb, Herba asperulse, H. matrisilvae, H, hepaticse stellatse, H. 

 cordialis; contains coumarin; diuretic, deobstruent, hepatic 

 stimulant. 



202. ASPICARPA, Rich. Aspicarpa. Malpighiaceae. 



From Greek, "shield fruit". Low shrubs. About 5 species, 

 Mexico and its borders; 2 in U. S. 



203. ASPIDOSPERMA, Mart. & Zucc. Quebracho. Apocynacea?. 



From Greek, ' 'shield seed' '. Trees. About 55 species, S. 

 America. 



a. A. Quebraclio-blanco Schlecht. Argentine Republic. Que- 

 bracho (i. e. axe-breaking), Quebracho bianco. Bark^ Aspi- 

 dosperma, U. S. P.. Cortex aspidospermatis quebracho. Tonic, 

 antispasmodic, especially in asthma. 



204. ASPLENIUM, L. Spleen wort. Polypodiaceae. 



A cosmopolitan genus of ferns of about 350 species; 21 in 

 U. S. The following have been used in place of Adiantum, 

 q. V. 



a. A. Adiantiim-nigrum L. Europe, Asia and Oceanica. Black 



Maiden-hair, Black-oak Fern, Petty Fern. 



b. A. Filix-foemina L. Europe, Asia and N. America, (Common 



in U. S.). Female Fern, Lady Fern, Backache Brake. 



c. A. Ruta-muraria L. Europe and widely distributed ( Eastern 



U. S. ). White Maidenhair, Wall-rue Spleen wort. Stone- rue, 

 Rue Fern, Tentwort, Wall-pie. 



d. A. Trichomaiies L. Widely distributed (L^ S.). Maidenhair 



Spleenwort, English Maidenhair, Waterwort. 



205. ASTEPHANUS, R. Br. Astephanus. Asclepiadaceae. 



From Greek, "crownless", alluding to the stamens. Under- 

 shrubs or climbers. About 30 species, warmer regions of Africa 

 and America; 1 in U. S. 



206. ASTER, L. - Aster. - Compositae. 



The Greek name, "star" -flower. Perennial, rarely annual, 

 herbs, the characteristic wild flower of late fall. About 250 

 species, most abundant in N. xVmerica; 125 in U. S. The 

 Indian name is It-brings-the-frost. Local names in America 

 are Frost-flower, Good-bye-summer, Daisy (Ohio). The follow- 

 ing among the common species of the eastern U. S^. have special 

 names, but these are not restricted in popular usage to the re- 

 spective species. 



