122 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 



(Harger, Bissell, Graves et al.), Bridgeport and Fairfield 

 (Eames). May — July. Adventive from the South. 



The plant yields a strong fiber. The roots form a lather 

 with water and were formerly used in the region where it is 

 plentiful in place of soap. 



ASPARAGUS L. Asparagus. 



Asparagus officinalis L. (of the shops). 

 Garden Asparagus. 



Frequent along the coast on shores and borders of salt 

 marshes ; occasional in fields, waste places and along roadsides 

 inland. June ; fruit Aug. — Sept. Naturalized from Europe. 



Widely cultivated for its young shoots. 



CLINTONIA Raf. 



Clintonia borealis (Ait.) Raf. (northern). 

 Clintonia. Yellow Clintonia. 



Rich often swampy woods. Frequent or common in the 

 extreme northwestern part of the state ; becoming occasional 

 or rare southward and eastward, reaching Kent (C. K. Averill, 

 E. H. Austin, Fames);, Bristol (W. A. Terry), East Hartford 

 and Manchester (A. W. Driggs), Cromwell (F. K. Hallock), 

 IMansfield (Mrs. C. S. Phelps), Hampton (Weatherby), Union 

 (Bissell), Voluntown (Graves). May — early June. 



SMILACINA Desf. False Solomon's Seal. 



Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf. (racemose). 

 Vagnera racemosa ]\Iorong. 

 Wild Spikenard. False Spikenard. 



Frequent to common. Rich usually rocky woods, thickets 

 and borders of fields. ]\Iid-]\Iay — June ; fruit Sept. — Oct. 



The root is medicinal. 



Smilacina stellata (L.) Desf. (star-shaped). 

 Vagnera stellata IMorong. 

 Star-flowered Solomon's Seal. 



Occasional near the coast in dry or moist, usually sandy 

 ground ; rare or local inland on river banks, in swamps or 

 even in dry rock}^ ground. IMid-^Iay — June. 



