204 ARISTOLOCHI^E. 



slightly lobed. Fruit baccate, bi-valved, and dehiscent. 

 Seed nut-like, covered by a many-cleft arillus ; albumen 

 ruminate, somewhat fleshy ; embryo small, radicle infe- 

 rior, and the cotyledons foliaceous. 



Trees with a reddish sap, and exstipulate alternate 

 coriaceous leaves, which when old are downy beneath. 

 Flowers have one bractea. 



Geographical Relations. Tropics exclusively. 



Properties. The juices of the bark are acrid and 

 irritating, the inner parts of the fruit highly stimulat- 

 ing. 



Officinal Plant. 



Myristica moschata. 



42. ARISTOLOCHU3. 



Perianth single, superior, tubular, 3-cleft ; sometimes 

 very unequal. Stamens 6-18, epigynous, distinct or 

 connate with the style. Ovarium inferior, 3-6-celled, 

 with numerous ovules ; style simple ; stigmas many 

 and radiating. Fruit capsular or baccate, 3-6-celled and 

 many- seeded. Seeds with fleshy albumen ; embryo 

 small. 



Herbs or climbing shrubs, with simple alternate leaves 

 sometimes apparently stipuled. Flowers of a dingy hue. 



Geographical Relations. Most common in intertro- 

 pical America ; few are found in Europe. 



Properties. Stimulating and tonic ; some are said to 

 have deleterious qualities. 



Officinal Plants. 



Serpentaria virginiana. 

 Asarum europoeum. 



