PLANTS. 319 



an erect, smooth, climbing, herbaceous shrub ; found 

 everywhere in warm countries ; grows in hedges, vine- 

 yards, etc. ; leaves on very long foot-stalks, broad, ovate. 

 Flowers small, in sessile clusters. Native of Europe ; 

 odor unpleasant ; taste bitter. It. 



The Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia sipho). Stem 

 woolly, twining, and shrubby ; leaves ample, heart- 

 shaped, and pointed ; flowers solitary ; the tube long and 

 bent at nearly a right angle in the form of a siphon or 

 tobacco-pipe, and of a dull brown color. An American 

 plant, and highly ornamental, much valued in cultivation 

 *for arbors. 2 . 



The Wild Ginger (Asarum europseum) has a stem 

 which is hardly visible, the true stem being the root, 

 runs under ground. Leaves petiolate, reniform, in pairs ; 

 flower pale green ; root has a pungent aromatic smell ; 

 creates nausea and vomiting ; was formerly employed 

 being mixed in snuff! It . 



Virginia Snake Root (Aristolachia serpentaria), a 

 well known and very valuable aromatic stimulant, belongs 

 here. To the Aristolachia succeeds 



The PASSIFLORACE^;. Passionworts, which, like the 

 foregoing, are woody, climbing shrubs ; very beautiful ; 

 calyx colored, deeply five-parted ; the throat, with a com- 

 plex filamentous crown. Fruit of various sizes ; form a 

 pulpy berry, containing small seeds, not unlike a goose- 

 berry. Native of South America ; cultivated elsewhere 

 as an ornamental plant. The fruit seldom ripens except 

 in the South, where it is called Markusa ; is cooling and 

 pleasant-tasted. The usual way of eating it is with wine 

 and sugar. 



FIFTY-SIXTH FAMILY. EUPHORBIACE^:. SPURGE- 

 WORTS (German, Wolf's milk) are trees or shrubs often 



