430 



ARISTOLOCHIACI^.B 



reddish, brittle sfems : ovate, hairy leaiks, and axillary clusters of 

 small, hairy flmvers. The /ilaiiienls are turiously joined and elas- 

 tic, so that if touched they suddenly 'spring from their incurved 

 position and shed their pollen. — Old walls ; common. In rural 

 districts an infusion of this plant was once a favourite medicine. 

 — Fl. Tune — October. Perennial. 



pakietAria offict,-;^i.ts {.Connih^n ('^■['Ati^yy-of-thf-waU). 



Ord. LXVIII. 



|5§ Ovaiv Dijerior 

 Aristolochiace.i:. — Bikthwcirt Fajiily 



A small group of herbs or shrubs, often climbing, chiefly tropi- 

 cal, being very abundant in South America, but rare elsewhere. 

 They have scattered, simple, exstipulate leaves, and usually soli- 

 tary, axillary, perfect fhnt<crs. The perimilh is attached to the 

 ovary below, tubular ah)0\e, with a wide mouth ; slaiiicus 6 — i:?, 

 c\}\gyno\is [ovary^^ — 6-chambered ; .</i7(' i : slignitu radiate, equal- 

 ling in number the chambers of theo\-ary : Iniil 3 --(i-chambcrcd, 

 many-seeded. The jilants of this (")rder.are generally bitter, tonic, 

 and stimulant, sometiim.s acrid or a'romatic. The diied and 



