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FB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS 



ASAEUM 



ders, old tree stumps &e. in low masses. 

 Their wiry stems lace and entwine so 

 much that the small leaves become very- 

 close to each other, making a bright green 

 carpet. They are increased by cuttings 

 of the young or partially ripened shoots, 

 which will root in an open shady border 

 in sandy soil ; but it is better, if possible, 

 to put them in a cold frame. If not 

 sufficiently well rooted for planting out 

 about September, they are safer kept 

 under cover until the following spring. 



M. adpressa (Polygonum adpressum). 

 A rambling, climbing Australian species 

 with heart-shaped or broadly oblong blunt 

 smooth leaves, i-2 in. long, trilobed when 

 young. Flowers in late summer, pink, 

 small, numerous, in panioled spikes. 

 Fruit a black triangular nut. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 



species is often grown in greenhouses, 

 but it will stand ordinary vrinters in 

 favourable parts of the country. In 

 severe weather a few branches of bracken 

 will be a protection. 



M. complexa. — A beautiful New Zea- 

 land rambler with wiry dull purple stems 

 and alternate roundish leaves, j-^ in. 

 across, sUghtly lobed at the base, and 

 having a purplish edge in autumn. 

 Flowers in September, small, dull white, 

 numerous, in small clusters in the axils 

 of the leaves. Stamens white, radiating 

 from the centre, rather conspicuous. 



This is perhaps the best species for 

 rockeries, boulders &c., over which it 

 forms charming masses. There seems to 

 be a form called various, with fiddle- 

 shaped leaves. 



Culture Ac. as above. 



XCVI. ARISTOLOCHIACE-iE— Birthwort Order 



An order of erect or climbing herbs or shrubs, more or less fetid smelling 

 when bruised. Leaves alternate, stalked, often heart-shaped, quite entire 

 or 3-5-lobed. Stipules none. Flowers hermaphrodite, solitary or shortly 

 oymose or racemose, axillary or terminal. Perianth peculiar in shape, attached 

 to the base of the ovary, equally 3-lobed, or irregularly entire toothed or 

 3-lobed. Stamens 6 or more, attached round the top of the ovary or adhering 

 to the stigmas. Ovary inferior, or rarely half superior. Fruit capsular or 

 berry-like, 3-6-celled, many-seeded. 



The order contains about 200 species, mostly natives of the tropics. 



ASARUM. — A genus of perennial easily increased by dividing the roots in 



herbs with creeping rootstocks and long- 

 stalked heart-shaped reniform or nearly 

 hastate leaves. Flowers terminal, solitary, 

 shortly stalked. Perianth adnate to _ the 

 base of the ovary, rather hemispherical, 

 broadly bell- or urn-shaped above the 

 ovary, variously constricted or open at 

 the throat, with 3 (rarely 4) equal valvate 

 lobes. Stamens usually 12, attached to 

 the ovary in two rows and sometimes 

 shghtly adnate to it. Ovary inferior or 

 half-superior, hemispherical or roundish ; 

 styles 6 (rarely 4), thiokish, free or more 

 or less united in a column. Capsule 

 leathery. 



Culture, and Propagation. — These 

 curious perennials flourish at the base of 

 the rockery or in borders or margins 

 of shrubberies, in ordinary garden soil, 

 and are interesting on account of their 

 peculiar appearance and structure rather 

 than for their beauty. They may be 



early spring. 



A. canadense (Canadian SnaTceroot). 

 A Canadian species about 1 ft. high with 

 broad kidney - shaped leaves in pairs. 

 Flowers in May and June, brownish- 

 purple, bell-shaped, on very short stalks, 

 and sometimes half buried in the soil. 

 The roots smell somewhat like Ginger. 



Culture dc. as above. 



A. caudatum. — A pretty Californian 

 species having heart-shaped reniform 

 hooded more or less acute and slightly 

 downy leaves. Flowers in July, brownish- 

 red, the 3 triangular lobes of the perianth 

 being produced into rather long tails. 



Culture tfc. as above. 



A. europaeum (Asarahacca). — A British 

 perennial about 1 ft. high, with a stout 

 branched, woody, and fleshy creepmg 

 rootstook, and evergreen kidney-shaped 

 leaves 2-3 in. long, having stalks 8-8 in. 



