No. 14.] FLOWERING PLANTS AND FERNS. 152 



Rare or local. Parasitic on Black Spruce: Norfolk, at 

 1400 ft. elevation, and Salisbury, about Bingham Pond at an 

 altitude of 1800 ft. (H. S. Clark & Bissell), Kent, about Spec- 

 tacle Ponds, where at an altitude of 1,200 ft. it also occurs on 

 Tamaracks (Eames & E. H. Austin). April — May; fruit 

 Sept. 



ARISTOLOCHIACEAE. BIRTHWORT FAMILY. 



ASARUM L. Asarabacca. Wild Ginger. 

 Asarum canadense L. 



Wild Ginger or Ginger-root. Sweet, False or Canada Colts- 

 foot. Heart Snakeroot. 



Rich rocky woods. Rare in the southeastern part of the 

 state and near the coast, occasional to locally common else- 

 where. Mid- April — May. 



The var. REFLEXUM (Bicknell) Robinson (bent backward), 

 Asarum reiiexum Bicknell, and the var. acuminatum Ashe 

 (taper-pointed), Asarum acuminatum Bicknell, occur with the 

 species or alone, the former in its most distinct condition in 

 the southwestern part of the state. 



Readily cultivated, and makes a pleasing ground covering 

 in rich shaded places. The rhizome is used medicinally and an 

 oil from it is used in perfumery. 



ARISTOLOCHIA L. Birthwort. 

 Aristolochia Serpentaria L. (pertaining to a serpent). 

 Snakeroot. Virginia or Fine Snakeroot. 



Dry rocky woods. Rare or local over most of its range: 

 East Lyme (Miss A. M. Ryon), East Haddam (Dr. E. J. 

 Thompson, Graves), Haddam (D. C. Eaton), Meriden (W. 

 A. Russell), Southington (C. D. Bishop), Naugatuck (J. 

 Nichols), Oxford and Southbury (Harger), Newtown 

 (Eames). Occasional toward the coast westward. Mid- 

 June — ^July. 



The aromatic roots are medicinal and are officinal. 



POLYGONACEAE. BUCKWHEAT FAMILY. 

 RUMEX L. Dock. Sorrel. 

 Rumex Patientia L. (patience). 



Patience or Spring Dock. Garden or Herb Patience. 



