ASPHODEL OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 27 



white flowers, the narrow petals and stamens giving it a fringe- 

 like appearance. It yields the substance called Manna, which 

 is obtained by making incisions in the bark, when the juice 

 exudes and hardens. 



The tree is cultivated in the South of Italy and Sicily from 

 whence manna is imported, and is used as a mild purgative. In 

 this country it forms an ornamental tree, and ' is well known 

 as the Flowering Ash. 



Ash, Mountain (Fyrus Aucuparia), a small tree of the Apple 

 family (Pomacese), native of tliis country ; it attains the height of 

 20 to 30 feet, having erect branches and wdnged leaves. It is 

 highly ornamental in autumn and winter with its beautiful red 

 berries, which are rough to the taste and not very palatable, but 

 afford abundance of food to the feathered tribe. In Scotland it 

 is called the Eowan Tree, and w^as formerly believed to ward off 

 witchcraft, a common saying being " Kowan tree and red thread 

 put the witches to their speed." 



Asparagus (Asparagus ojfficmalis), a perennial herb of the 

 Lily family (Liliaceae), a native of the sea-coast in the southern 

 counties of England. It also occupies large tracts of country in 

 Poland and Eussia, and other parts of Europe. It is said to 

 have been cultivated by the Eomans before the Christian era. 

 It is extensively grown as a spring vegetable in the vicinity of 

 London and Paris. There are several species from South Africa 

 and India, having climbing or trailing stems, often spinose. 



Asparagus, Bath or French (Omithogalum pyrenaicitm), a 

 bulbous plant of the Lily family (Liliaceae), native of this coun- 

 try, abounding in some parts of the southern counties, especially 

 about Bath, where the young flower-stalks are collected, and 

 eaten as a vegetable under the above names. 



Aspen (Fopulus tremula), a tree of the Willow family 

 (Salicace^e). The trembling poplar is a native of Britain, and is 

 a fast-growing tree, remarkable from the tremulous twirling of 

 its leaves. {See Poplar.) 



Asphodel {Asplwdelus ramos^is), a caespitose perennial of the 

 Lily family (Liliacese), with broad grass-like leaves, and flower- 



