324 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



and delicate flowers, are among the choicest finds of the woods. 

 In their botanical features they are not unlike the parsleys, hav- 

 ing a short, toothed calyx, 5 petals, 5 stamens, and from 2 to 5 

 styles. Compound leaves, and small white (or greenish) flowers 

 in umbels, complete the likeness. But they differ from the rank 

 and often baneful parsleys in one important respect. None of 

 the ginsengs is poisonous. Their roots are aromatic, of pleas- 

 ant flavor. 



The ginseng has a stem i foot high, bearing above the leaves a 

 simple umbel of white flowers, and later a cluster of bright red, 

 berry-like drupes. 



40. Dwarf Ginseng, or Ground-nut 



A. trifblia is often found growing near in the same woods. 

 The ground-nut refers to its root, a small tuber, sweet and 

 edible, sunk deep into the ground, only unearthed after care- 

 ful, patient digging. 3 to 8 inches high. 



It is a lovely herb, with little balls of blossoms just overtop- 

 ping a whorl of 3 leaves, each divided into 3 to 5 sessile leaflets, 

 all on the same leaf-stalk. It is a spring flower, coming with the 

 hepatica in April and May, perfecting later a yellowish fruit. 



41. Wild Sarsaparilla 



A. nudicaitlis, though not the officinal root which the soda- 

 fountain clerk uses (officinal meaning that which has com- 

 mercial value), is sometimes used to flavor summer drinks. 

 A single, long-stalked leaf rises to the height of a foot, divided 

 into oblong, pointed leaflets, 5 leaflets on each of 3 divisions. 

 To the unbotanical eye there are 3 compound leaves, each 

 5-divided, springing from the stem. Lower down the flowers 

 grow on separate scapes in umbels, 2 to 7 umbels springing 

 from the same centre. In the autumn these large, handsome 

 leaves, with their dark purple attendant bunches of fruit, are 

 very conspicuous. The roots are several feet long, and spread 

 horizontally. 



