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DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



the specific uame, is from the Latin officina, belonging to trade, or the market. 

 The common name, sparrow gjxiss, is a corruption of asparagus. 



History. — Asparagus was known to the Greeks and Romans at least two 

 thousand years ago. 



Use. — Asparagus is a very delicate vegetable, and most highly prized as a 

 pot-herb. It is greatly improved by cultivation, both in size and quality. Its 

 tender, fleshy shoots are the parts eaten. When boiled in a small quantity 

 of water with a little salt, it retains its natural delicate flavor, which to the 

 epicure is not improved by disguising sauces. It is also cut into short 

 pieces a quarter of an inch in length, boiled, and served as green peas are. 

 Its medicinal properties are diuretic, and it is recommended for complaints 

 of the kidneys. Its seeds have been used in Europe as a substitute for 

 coffee. 



PHORMIXJM, Forst. Perianth incurved, segments connate at the 

 base, in a short, top-shaped tube, the three exterior segments lanceo- 

 late, the three interior sometimes a little longer and narrower at the 

 apex ; stamens 6, attached to the base of the tube ; filaments thread- 

 like ; anthers oblong or oblong-linear, erect, attached along their 

 backs to the filaments; filaments intruding into the anther-cells. 

 Ovary sessile, oblong, 3-cornered, and 3-valved ; style filiform ; stigma 

 short, head-shaped; ovules numerous; capsule somewhat leathery, 

 3-sided, cylindrical, often strongly twisted. Perianth cylindrical, 

 funnel-formed, united below. Leaves radical, keeled, not fleshy. 

 Seeds oblong, flattened; seed-vessel black, membranaceous, sharply 

 dilated at the margin, but not properly winged. Embryo long. 



P. tenax, L. (New Zealand Flax.) Rhizome short, thick, radical fibers 

 densely matted. Leaves radical, 3 to 9 feet long, narrow, linear, sword-shaped, 

 leathery, tenacious, arranged a little way up the stem in 

 two rows on opposite sides for a short distance from the 

 root. Scape leafless and branching above ; bracts under 

 the branches, which sometimes fall off. Flowers pedi- 

 celed, in terminal panicles, or fascicled with the bracts 

 along the branches, varied in color ; flower-stalk jointed 

 under the flower. The seed matures in the third year, 

 the stalk rising to the height of 16 feet, when the whole 

 plant dies down, and renews itself from its roots. 



Geography. — Its home is New Zealand, where it was 

 applied by the natives to the manufacture of clothing, 

 cordage, and mats before the arrival of Europeans. It 

 has been introduced into southern Europe and northern 

 Africa. It grows in the open air in the southern parts 

 of England and of Ireland ; and is grown in the United 

 States in greenhouses. 



Etymology. — Phormium is from the Greek (pop/j-os, 



wicker-work, or a basket, in reference to the use made of 



the fiber of the leaves. Tenax is Latin, signifying " tenacious," due to the 



strength of the fiber. New Zealand flax, the common name, indicates the 



country where it is found native. 



Phormium tenax 

 (New Zealand Flax) 



