706 ARISTOLOCHIACE^. (BIRTHWORT FAMILY.) 



Style cylindrical, stigma globular, ovules orthotropous. Fruit a pulpy, 

 1-celled, indehiscent, many - seeded berry; seeds minute — Herbs, 

 parasitic on roots (in ours) of Cistus, -with short, fleshy stems, beset 

 ■u'ith imbricated scales. 



C. Hypocistis, L. If .05 to .15, mono3cious; stems cylindrical- 

 club-shaped, solitary or numerous. Scales pink to crimson, ovate to 

 elliptical, obtuse, denticulate-ciliate. Flowers subsessile, 5-10 in short, 

 spike-like heads, the pistillate lateral, the staminate central ; bracts' 2 ; 

 calyx white or yellowish, pubescent, the 4 lobes ovate-elliptical, erect; 

 anthers 8; stigma capitate, 8-10-grooved — May and June — On roots 

 of species of Cistus; coast and lower mountains. 



Order LXXXVII. ARISTOI^OCHIACEiE, Lindl. 

 (Birth WORT Family.) 



Herhs^ with ])evfect flov:ers^ the lurid^ consincuous j^eri- 

 goniwiu superior, {in ours) irregular, undivided, the ovary 

 (j-celled, forming a cajpsule / the, anthers longitudinally 

 dehiscent — Stamens (in ours) 6, adnate to style ; placenta^ 

 central, manj-ovuled, ovules anatropous, with thickened 

 raphe; embryo small, at base of fleshy albumen. Leaves 

 heart-sha^^ed at base, entire, alternate — A family of tonic, 

 stimulant plants. ^ 



ARISTOI.OCHIA5 L. BlRTHWORT. 



Perigonium tubular, dilated above ovary, the apex generally ligu- 

 late. Style short, with C stigmas. Ovules in two rows on the placenta. 

 Capsule leathery, umbilicate at tij) with the scar of tlie limb of the 

 perigonium, septicidal, 6-valved at base or toward apex. Seeds in one 

 row, strophiolate — Herbs, sometimes climbing. 



* Llmh of perigonium not auricled at lase. 



\ Stems climling, Tiibe of 'perigonmm curved. 



i. A, aUis§ima, Desf. 2{ 8 to 5; root fibrous; stem 6-angled, 

 often as thick as a finger. Leaves persistent, glossy, glabrous, short- 

 petioled, cordate-ovate, acute or obtusish, .03 to .08 long, auricles 

 rounded. Peduncles thrice as long as petiole; flowers solitary, .02 to 

 .03 long, rusty-purple, with globular utricle, curved tube, and ovate or 

 oblong lip, much shorter than tube; capsule ollong, .025 to .03 long, 

 .015 to .018 broad, pendulous — April and May — Rocky and shady 

 places ; Phosnician coast, Lebanon, and Antilebanon. 



1 1 Stems not clinibing. Tide of perigonium straight or strongly incurxed. 



2. A, parvifolia, S. et Sm. % .1 to .25; root-stock fusiform; 

 stems .001 thick, procumbent or ascending, leafy. Leaves .01 to .015 

 long, short-petioled, puberulent at lower surface, cordate-ovate, witli 

 somewhat 4-anglefl sinus, and rounded auricles. Flowers dusky-pur- 

 ple, very short-peduncled, solitary in upper axils ; utricle ovate, tube 

 .01 to .015 long. Up linear -lanceolate, .03 long; capsule sp>herical, .01 in 

 diameter — May and June — Phoenician plain; Jerusalem; Lebanon to 

 1300 m. ; Amanus. 



