CLASS XI. ORDER I. 199 



DODECANDRIA. 

 MONOGYNIA. 



209. ASARUM. 

 AsARi'M Canadense. L. Wild Ginger. 



American Medical Botany, PI. xv. 



Leaves two. reniforni ; calyx woolly, cleft to the 

 base; its segments spreading at top. 



A low plant with two leaves and an axillary flower growing 

 close to the ground. The root is creeping, fleshy, and some- 

 ■what jointed. Leaves kidney shaped, pubescent on both sides, 

 with long, round, hairy petioles. Flower solitary, growing from 

 the fork of the stern on a pendulous, hairy peduncle, and some- 

 tinnes nenrly buried in the ground. Calyx very hairy or woolly, 

 consisting of three broad, concave leafets, which are mostly of a 

 brownish or dull purple on the inside at top and bottom, and ter- 

 minated by a long, spreading, inflected point, with reflexed sides. 

 The color varies greatly, according to the amount of light 

 •which the plant enjoys, being sometimes nearly green. Sta- 

 mens twelve, inserted on the germ at a distance from the ca- 

 lyx, the alternate ones longer. Anthers growing to the filaments 

 helow their extremity. Near the divisions of the calyx are 

 three short, curved, filamentary substances, which may perhaps 

 he called nectaries. Germ inferior, somewhat hexagonal, marked 

 at top inside, with a dark red line; style conical, striate, parted 

 at top into six recurved, radiating stigmas. — Dry woods, in the 

 western and northern parts of the state.— May to July. — Per- 

 ennial. 



The root has an agreeable, aromatic flavor, not unlike that of 

 ginger. 



210. PORTULACA. 



PoRTULACA OLERACEA. L. Purslune. 



Leaves wedge shaped ; flowers sessile. L. 



A succulent, annual plant, common in gardens, cultivated fields, 

 and waste grounds. Stems procumbent, spreading, smooth, fleshy. 

 Leaves wedge shaped, rounded at the end, fleshy, smooth, sessile. 



