182 PENTANDMA DIGYNIA 



Root perennial, 3 to 6 inches Ions, and 1 third to 2 thirds of an inch id diameter 

 often forked downwards, whitish, transversely rugose. Stem 9 to 18 inches hUrft 

 herbaceous, mostly angular ami Bulcate, smooth, pale green tinged with purplish 

 brown, divided at summit into 3 (or rarely 4) spreading petioles, with an erect pe- 

 duncle in the centre. Common petioles 3 to 1 inches long ; partial petioles unequal, 

 I fourth of an inch to an Inch long* Lcajlcts mostly 5 (sometimes 6 or T), unequal 

 in size, glabrous, thin and membranous, with a few scattered subulate scarious 

 bristles on the midrib and nerves; the three principal leaflets 3 to 5 inches Ion* 

 and 2 to 3 inches wide, obovate, acuminata) unequally serrate, the lateral ones 

 much smaller, oval, or often rather obliquely ovate. ( 'ommon peduncle nearly ai 

 long as the common petioles, a little tumid at base Umbel many-flowered; the 

 centra] flowers often abortive : pedicels one third to halt" an inch long, with lance- 

 linear acute denticulate involut re-like brw Is at base. Calyx with 5 short broad- 

 ovate acute teeth, often with a subulate bract at base. Petals yellowish green 

 ovate-oblong, rather obtuse. Stamens a little longer than the petals. Styles 2 

 shorter than the stamens, erect, at lengthdivt rging. Ovary compressed, cordate. 

 ovate, or somewhat gibbous at base on each side. F\ uii a succulent or fleshy kin! 

 of berry, somewhat compressed, broad-cordate and very obtuse, or rather rem- 

 form, crowned with the persistent calyx-teeth and styles, smooth, bright crimson 

 when mature. [Seeds 2, semicircular. Terr. Bigel."] 



Hub. Rich woodlands ; Forks of Brandy wine ; < l Valley : rare. Fl. July. Fr. Sept 

 Obs. The root of this plant is slightly stimulant , and not unpleasantly ar >mat- 

 ic. Its celebrity, as an article of commerce with the Chinese, has be< a great ; and 

 its real value., as a medicament, has been extravagantly over-rated by the goud rx o 

 pie of the celestial empire. 



2. P. trifolium", L. Root globose ; leaflets ternate, or quinatr, 

 lance-oblong, subscssile ; peduncle of the umbel longer than the com- 

 mon petioles ; flowers mostly dioicous ; styles mostly 3 ; fruit subcoria- 

 ccous, 3-seedcd. Beck, Bot. p. 152. 



TnnEF.-LEA.VEi) Panax. Vulgd — Dwarf Ginseng. 



Root perennial, a globose tuber about half an inch in diameter, rather deep ii 

 the ground. Stem 4 to G or S inches high, slender, minutely grooved, or striate 

 smooth, mostly of a tawny purple color, divided at summit into 3 petioles half au 

 inch to an inch long. Leaflets generally 3, but not imfrequently o, unequalJbalf 

 an inch to 2 inches long, and one fourth to 2 thirds of an inch wide, lance-oblong, 

 ratheracute, sharply serrate, somewhat cuneate at base, nearly sessile, glabrous 

 often with minute cartilaginous bristles on the midrib and nerves above. Com- 

 mon peduncle 1 to 2 inches long. St animate umbel many-flowered, whitish; ;*<ft. 

 eels filiform, about one fourth of an inch long, with greenish white subulate bracts 

 at base shorter than the pedicels. Flotcers small. Cahjx turbinate, truncate, ob- 

 acurely dentate, white. Petals white, oblong-oval, obtuse. Stamen* rather long- 

 er than the petals. Style 1. Orary abortive. Pistillate umbel (sometimes per- 

 fect) fewer-flowered / pedicels shorter than in the staminatc, with lance-linear in- 

 velucrate bracts at base as long as the pedicels. Calyx-teeth minute. Petals* 

 (fione 1 Torr.), white, oblong-oval, obtuse, caducous in the pistillutc flowers (some- 

 limes wanting?) remaining longer on the perfect ones. Stamens when pres- 

 ent longer than the petals. Styles 3, diverging, shorter than the petals. Ovary 

 trigonous, somewhat urceolate, greenish. Fruit subcoriaceous, rugose, trigonous- 

 •roid, trisulcate and somewhat 3-lobed, pale greenish yellow when mature. Seeds 

 1, ovoid, acute at apex, slightly incurved, rugose-pitted, brownish yellow. 



M*k. Moist shaded grounds; alon* rivulet*: frequent. Fl. April. Fr May. 



