HiEMODORACEiE. 



623 



Aletris. — Linn. 



Perianth semi-inferior, tubular, with a 6-cleft, spreading limb, somewhat hexagonal, 

 scabrous, and plaited externally. Stamens inserted on the base of the segments ; fila- 

 ments flat ; anthers somewhat sagittate. Ovary 3-lobed, pyramidal ; style formed of 3 

 connate bristles ; stigma simple. Capsule pyramidal, opening in threo directions at the 

 apex. Seeds very small, striated, numerous. 



A small North American genus, with radical leaves, disposed in a stellate 

 form. 



A. farinosa, Linn. — 

 Root perennial, small, Fig. 280. 



contorted. Radical leaves 

 spreading on the ground 

 like a star, sessile, lance- 

 olate, entire, smooth, rib- 

 bed, of a pale green, or 

 glaucous colour. Stem 

 from 1 — 3 feet high, sim- 

 ple, erect, invested with 

 remote scales, which 

 sometimes expand into 

 small subulate leaves. 

 Spike slender, scattered, 

 each flower with a short 

 pedicel and a minute 

 bract. Perianth white, 

 oblong-campanulate, di- 

 vided in the limb into 6 

 acute, spreading seg- 

 ments ; outside mealy, 

 rugose. Stamens 6, in- . 

 serted near the mouth; 

 ovary pyramidal, semi- 

 inferior ; style triangu- 

 lar, separable into 3. 

 Capsule triangular, in- 

 vested with the perma- 

 nent perianth, 3-celled, 

 3-valved at top. Seeds 

 numerous, minute. 



Linn., Sp.Pl. 456; 

 Bot.Mag. 1418; Bi- 

 gelow, Med. Bot. iii. 

 50; Rafinesque, Med. 

 Flor. i. 37. 



Common Names. 

 — Blazing Star ; Ague 

 Root ; Star Root, &c. 



Found in most 

 parts of the United 

 States, usually in dry A> farin o S a. 



sandy soils and bar- 

 rens. It flowers in June and July. The root is intensely bitter, owing, 

 probably, to a resinous principle, as it is taken up by alcohol, and the solu- 

 tion is rendered turbid by water. It is also slightly soluble in water. No 

 analysis has been made of it. 



