ASCLEPIADEJE. 145 



G. triflorum. Mx. Three-flowered ; has largish leaves, small 

 flowers, smoothish and procumbent stem ; fruit in a 3-rayed um- 

 bel ; woods ; July. 



G. pilosum. Ait. Hairy Cleavers. Has purple flowers, and 

 a rough stem, one foot high ; leaves 4, in a whorl, very hairy 

 throughout, and fruit hairy ; woods ; July. 



ORDER 195. ASCLEPIADEiE. The Milkweed Tribe. 



Persistent calyx of 5 segments ; monopetalous corolla, 5-lobed ; 

 inferior, regular ; stamens 5, inserted in the base of the corolla, 

 with 2-celled anthers ; follicles 2, or 1 by abortion ; plants com- 

 monly milky ; flowers umbelled, fascicled, racemed. The prop- 

 erties are generally acrid and stimulating, sometimes emetic ; the 

 milky juice commonly bitter, and suspicious. The Cow-plant of 

 India, the milk of which is used as food by the natives, belongs 

 to this order. Only one genus of this order is found in this State. 



Asclepias. L. 5. 2. Swallow-wort. Silkweed. 



Named in honor of some JEsculapius, the name of many dis- 

 tinguished physicians. About 50 species of this genus are known, 

 one half of which belong to North America ; 1 are credited to 

 Massachusetts. The plants are not of great consequence. 



A. Syriaca. L. Common Silk Weed. Grows about woods 

 and fields, 2-4 feet high, with large oblong leaves, bearing its 

 seed attached to a long silky pappus or seed-down. The young 

 plant is eaten like asparagus ; a beautiful cape, made by sewing 

 the silky down upon cloth, was presented at the Berkshire Cattle- 

 show and Fair, and greatly admired. 



A. incarnata. L. Distinguished for its umbels of beautiful 

 purple flowers ; in low grounds. 



A. quadrifolia. L. Has four leaves in opposite pairs, and is 

 a delicate plant. 



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