52 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



the germ, many-seeded ; leaves alternate ; flowers axillary, soli- 

 tary, of a dull color ; some are herbaceous. 



Tonic, stimulant, anthelmintic, antarthritic, alexipharmic, evac- 

 uant, antophthalmic, emetic, are the properties belonging to the 

 order. 



Common in equinoctial America ; sparingly found in the tem- 

 perate zones. 



Aristolochia. L. 18. 6. 



A. serpentaria. L. Virginia Snakeroot. This plant grows 

 in shady woods in the Southern States, from Pennsylvania to 

 Carolina ; stem flexuous ; oblong and cordate leaves ; flowers 

 purplish brown on a radical peduncle ; blossoms in June. The 

 roots are highly medicinal. Bigelow's " Medical Botany." 

 Cultivated by the Shakers. Of this genus, 47 species have 

 been described. 



Asarum. L. 18. 10. 



A. Canadense. L. Wild Ginger, White Snakeroot. Stem- 

 less ; from the root arise two kidney-form, broad, and round 

 leaves, pubescent on both sides, and with hairy petioles ; a 

 single flower rises between the leaves, and close to the ground, 

 having a woolly calyx of several deeply-parted segments, on a 

 short peduncle ; root creeping, fleshy, partially jointed ; blossoms 

 in May, and grows in woods. The roots have a pleasant aro- 

 matic taste ; medicinal. Bigelow's u Medical Botany." 



Another species is found in the South, and one in Canada, while 

 only one is ascribed to England and other parts of Europe. 



ORDER 64. SANTALACEiE. 



So named from the genus, Santalum, whose species belong to 

 India and New Holland. 



Calyx 4 or 5-cleft, with stamens opposite the segments of 

 the calyx ; ovary inferior, 1 -celled ; style 1 ; leaves alternate, 

 or mostly opposite, undivided ; flowers generally in spikes ; rarely 

 solitary or umbelliferous ; small. Few properties of interest. 



In New Holland, the East Indies, &c, the plants of this order 



