ASARALS. 515 
The ArisToLocHiace® are common in tropical America, sparingly 
in North America, Europe, and Siberia, and in small numbers in 
India. ‘Two species are said to be British plants, but the rarest of 
our reputed species, and probably an accidental importation. 
Aristolochia blematitis is recorded as being found growing on old 
walls, &c., near Spittal, in Lincolnshire. 
The distinguishing characteristic of the order resides in the 
flowers, which have no corolla, and are constantly divided into 
three segments. The stamens have the same ternary characters, 
and the cells of the fruit are three or six, always adherent to the 
calyx. The arrangement of the wood is also peculiar, their stems 
being composed of longitudinal plates, surrounded by a central 
pith, with an exterior bark; but these plates are not placed in 
concentric circles, as in other exogenous plants, but continue to 
grow, uniformly and uiidercipisdly: as long as the plant lives. 
The most remarkable species are found in tropical America, where 
the gigantic size and grotesque appearance of their flowers excite 
the wonder of the traveller; of these, A. cymbifera, the border of 
whose calyx resembles one of the lappels of a Norman woman’s cap, 
measures seven or eight inches in length; while the flowers of 
A. cordiflora and A. gigantea are from fifteen to sixteen inches 
across. They are generally tonic and stimulating, and several of — 
them are used in medicine. 
