PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



CLASS I. VASCULARES. Flowering Plants. 



Sub-class I. EXOGENJE. Dicotyledones. 



TRIBE I. ANGIOSPER1VLE, 



(Or having seeds enclosed in a pericarp or covering.) 



1. Polypetalous, Jlpetalous, and Achlamijdeous Plants. 



ORDER 1. ARALIACE.E. The Aralia Tribe. 



Flowers in the form of an umbel ; leaves compound ; fruit 

 a berry ; permanent calyx standing on the germ or ovary ; 

 stamens 5 or 6, 10 or 12, rising within the border of the calyx or 

 flower-cup. 



This is a small order, embracing, in Massachusetts, only two 

 genera and five species, though the plants of the order are found 

 widely scattered over North America, and in China, Japan, New 

 Zealand, he. Some of them are shrubby, while ours are herba- 

 ceous. The plants possess no properties of much interest. 



1. Aralia. L. 5. 5. 



The origin of the name is unknown, but a plant of this name 

 was first sent to Europe from Quebec in 1764. Loudon. 



Calyx entire, or 5-toothed ; corol 5-petalled, small ; stamens 

 5 or more, 5 spreading styles ; berry 5 or 10-seeded, crowned 

 with the styles ; small involucres often on the umbels. 



1. A. racemosa. L. Spikenard. Branched, herbaceous 

 stem ; petioles 3-parted, with ternate or quinate divisions, and 



