BIRTHWORT FAMILY 
ARISTOLOCHIACEZE 
The curious flowers of the plants of this family 
have no petals but have many seeds that develop 
in the six-celled ovary. The interesting climb- 
ing plant called Pipe Vine or Dutchman’s Pipe, 
which grows wild in the southern states and is 
very generally planted about porches in the north- 
ern states, is the typical illustration of this group. 
Witp Gincer. In the north there is but one 
common herbaceous wild flower belonging to 
the family. This is the Wild Ginger, which is a 
curious flower and one that is likely to be over- 
looked by the careless stroller in the June woods. 
The large, kidney-shaped leaves are conspicuous 
enough, but they hide the bell-like blossom at 
the base of their rather long stems. The flower- 
stalk is very short, just holding the flower above 
the surface of the ground. At first the blossom is 
held upright, but later the stem turns around so 
as to turn it downward, as shown in the picture. 
Notwithstanding its lackof beauty, this blossom 
is of decided interest to the naturalist, for it is 
adapted to pollination by flies which seek it out 
and carry the pollen from one flower to another. 
“Within the cosy cup,” writes Neltje Blanchan, 
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