LILIACE^. 



275 



in Japan, an<l lias a native name, which seems to point to its being indigeuouR 

 to that region. It grows ontside of cultivation in Great Britain. It is indig- 

 enous to the countries of the Levant; was brought to North America by 





^^^^ 



Asparagus officinalis (Asparagus). 



European colonists, where it is under cultivation, and is a favorite table vege- 

 table. It has escaped from the garden, and is growing wild, especially along 

 the seacoast. 



Asparagus officinalis (Asparaprus). 



Etymoloi] ij . — The name asparagus is derived from the Greek word (rirapda-aru, 

 tear, alluding to the thorny character of some of the species. Officinalis, 



