146 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



A. tuberosa. L. Pleurisy Root. Butterfly Weed. A hairy 

 plant, with opposite and scattered leaves ; stem 1-2 feet high, 

 bearing bright orange-colored flowers in the axils, and at the ter- 

 mination ; has valuable medicinal properties ; light sandy soil, 

 easily cultivated, and much improved by cultivation, which, from 

 its great beauty, it richly deserves. It rises to the height of 4-6 

 feet, and its umbels of flowers increase in number and improve in 

 size and color. June. Bigelow's "Medical Botany." 



A. viridiflorci) Ph., A. verticillata, L., and A. variegata^ L., 

 are rare plants, as well as A. purpurascens, L. A. pulchra, 

 found in the eastern parts of the State, is so named for its beauty. 



A. phytolaccoides. Ph. Grows in wet grounds, and has large 

 leaves like the plant it is named after ; 3-4 feet high; few- 

 flowered. 



A. obtusifolia. Mx. Its name describes its leaves, oblong and 

 obtuse, sessile and clasping ; stem 2 or 3 feet high, erect and 

 smooth ; flowers large and purple ; sandy fields ; June. This, as 

 well as other species, would repay the trouble of cultivation. 



ORDER 196. APOCYNEiE. 



Persistent calyx, with 5 divisions ; corolla 1-petalled, regular, 

 5-lobed, inferior, supporting on its base the 5 stamens ; fruit a 

 follicle, capsule, berry, or drupe ; white, milky juice in many 

 species ; leaves opposite or whorled. Only one genus in this 

 State, though the order contains many genera, and important 

 plants. 



Apocynum. L. 5. 1. Dog's Bane. 



From the Greek away and dog, from its supposed ofTensiveness 

 to that animal. The species are rather handsome plants. 



A. androswmi folium. L. Common Dog's Bane. Stem 

 3-5 feet high, smooth, much branched, with upper leaves op- 

 posite, smooth on both sides, and green on the upper ; white 



