116 AEISTOLOCHIE^— BIRTH WORT TRIBE 



are riow primed to go through the process with another Birthwort flower. 

 The young shoots of the plant are somewhat like a vine, whence the name 

 of Clematitis, and the leaves are large and heart-shaped. 



This Birthwort grows wild on the stony places of Languedoc and Pro- 

 vence, and its roots are used as a stomachic in many parts of Europe. They 

 have a disagreeable odour, and would probably prove deleterious to animals, 

 as some other kinds are said to do, the roots of A. grand iflora proving fatal 

 to swine, which sometimes tear them up and eat them. Several of the 

 species are renowned in some countries of Europe for having an extraordinary 

 influence over the serpent race ; and the Serpentary (A. serpentaria) is stated 

 to be so offensive to those reptiles that they not only avoid the places where 

 it grows, but even flee from the traveller who carries a piece of the plant in 

 his hand. It is al^o very generally believed that the Egyptian snake-jugglers 

 stupefy these animals by its means ; and Jacquin asserts that a few drops of 

 the juice of one species introduced into the mouth of a serpent so intoxicate 

 it that it becomes insensible, and suffers itself to be handled with impunity. 



2. AsARABACCA (Asarum). 



Asarabacca (A. europceuin). — Leaves kidney-shaped, blunt, stalked, 

 evergreen ; stem very short ; segments of the perianth short, and curving 

 inwards ; rootstock creeping, perennial. This plant occurs in woods in the 

 north of this kingdom, as in Lancashire, Wilts, Bucks, Herefordshire, York- 

 shire and Denbigh ; but it is in all probability an introduced, and not a 

 native species. It is a singular herb, bearing in May a solitary, rather 

 large, drooping flower of a dull purple-green hue, which is placed on a short 

 tough stalk between two shining bright green scales. The roots, which are 

 aromatic, have been much used medicinally, and from its frequent use as a 

 remedy for the eflfects of excessive drinking, the pla«it has acquired in 

 France the name of Cabaret. The French call it also L'Asiird ; the Germans, 

 Hasdivwrz ; the Dutch, Mans-oor ; the Italians, A saw. The leaves, when 

 powdered, are used as snuft', and considered beneficial in headache. The 

 acrid principle of the plant is regarded as similar to that of the Arum, and 

 the roots have very powerful medicinal properties. 



Order LXXV. EMPETREiE— CROWBERRY TRIBE. 



Stamens and pistils on separate plants ; perianth of several scales, 

 arranged in 2 rows, the inner resembling petals ; stamens 2 — 3, opposite to 

 the scales of the outer row ; ovary of 3, 6, or 9 cells, on a fleshy disk ; style 1 ; 

 stigma rayed ; fruit fleshy, with bony cells ; seeds 1 in each cell. The order 

 consists of low shrubs with heath-like leaves, without stipules, and with small 

 flowers, chiefly inhabiting Europe and North America. 



Crowberry (Empeirum). — Perianth of 3 outer and 3 inner scales ; 

 stamens 3 ; fruit globose, w^ith G — 9 seeds. Name from the Greek en, in. 

 and petron, a stone, because it grows in stony places. 



