476 ASPARAGUS. [CLASS VI. ORDER I. 



roundish, smooth, much branched above, with slender somewhat an- 

 gular branches, densely clothed with scales at the base of a pale thin 

 membranous texture, scattered upwards, and diminishing in size, 

 forming a lanceolate scaly stipule at the base of each fascicle of the 

 leaves. Leaves numerous, smooth, bristle shaped, with an acute point, 

 channeled above, in tufts of variable numbers, and mostly of irregular 

 lengths. Floivers from the axils of the branches and leaves, from one 

 to four together, each flower on a slender drooping peduncle, about 

 half an inch long, smooth and jointed about the middle, the part next 

 the flower being the thickest, which seems to be a prolongation of the 

 perianth, which is bell-shaped, of a greenish colour, without smell, 

 small, divided nearly half way down into six lanceolate segments, each 

 having a green rib terminating in its point. Stamens on very short 

 filaments, inserted about the middle of the perianth. Anthers ovate, 

 shield-like, yellow, large, erect. Style very short, with a three lobed 

 spreading stigma. Fruit a round scarlet berry, smooth and shining, 

 of three cells, or only with one or two from abortion of the others, each 

 cell with one or two globose seeds, having a horny albumen, and the 

 embryo out of the centre. 



Habitat. — Waste sandy or stony places. On the sea coast in the 

 West and South-west of England ; Asparagus Island, Kynance Cove, 

 Cornwall. Links near Gosford, Scotland. 



Perennial ; flowering in June and July. 



The young quick grown tender stems of the Asparagus are well 

 known as a culinary vegetable, much esteemed, but containing very 

 little nutriment. The juice of the stems and roots has been long 

 used as a diuretic in aff'ections of the kidneys, but its efficacy is 

 very doubtful ; when the stem is eaten as a vegetable, or any of its 

 preparations taken into the stomach, it is rapidly absorbed into the 

 system, and secreted by the kidneys. We have repeatedly observed the 

 urine to have the peculiar odour given to it by Asparagus in fifteen or 

 twenty minutes after it has been taken. Besides this species there are 

 several others which grow common in the hedges in many parts of 

 Italy, all of which are indiscriminately cut in a young state, and used 

 at table ; but in the wild state the shoots are much smaller, harder 

 and of stronger flavour, than after they have been grown quick by 

 cultivation. The juice of Asparagus contains a peculiar vegetable 

 principle, called asparagin, which spontaneously forms into rhomboidal 

 prisms in the juice, when it has been evaporated to the consistence of 

 syrup. 



