54 ARISTOLOCHIACEAE (BIRTHWORT FAMILY) 



SAWTALACEAE (Sandalwood Family) 



A small family, chiefly tropical, and including herbs, shrubs and 

 trees. 



COMANDRA 



Low herbaceous perennials. The flowers perfect and in umbel- 

 like clusters. Anthers connected to the calyx- 

 lobes by a tuft of thread-like hairs. A. smooth 

 plant with herbaceous stems arising from a 

 rather woody base, alternate and almost sessile 

 leaves, and greenish-white flowers. 



C. umbellata, Bastard Toadflax. The flower- 

 ing stems 1.5-4 dm. high, branched, very leafy. 

 The leaves are oblong, thin, pale beneath, the pale 

 Comandra umbellata, ^-^^-^^ ^^^ prominent beneath. The inflorescence 



Bastard toadflax. . ... . , 



Inflorescence and ^^ ^^ ellipsoid panicle composea of many small 

 single flower. flowers on divergent branches. The roots form 



parasitic attachments to the roots of trees and 

 shrubs. Dry ground. Flowers in May and June. 



ARISTOLOCHIACEAE 



(BiRTHWORT Family) 



A small family of twining shrubs 

 or low herbs, with perfect flowers, 

 the conspicuous calyx valvate tn 

 bud and coherent with the 6-celled 

 ovary which forms a many-seeded 

 fruit. Stamens 5—12, more or less 

 united with the style. 



ASARUM 



Stemless, perennial herbs. Sta- 

 mens 12, with more or less distinct 

 filaments. The calyx is 3-parted. 

 The petals when present are rudi- 



^^. . , Asarum canadense, Wild ginger. 



mentary. The creeping rootstock 



is aromatic-pungent. It bears one or two kidney-shaped or heart- 



