MISTLETOE FAMILY 43 1 



powdered leaves of Asarabacca (Asarum europium) are used in the 

 preparation of cephalic snuffs, exciting sneezing, and giving relief 

 to headache and weak eyes. Virginian Snake-root (Aristolochia 

 serpentdria) and other allied species are used as antidotes to the 

 bite of venomous snakes. The juice extracted from the rhizome 

 of a South American species is said to have the power of stupefy- 

 ing serpents if placed in their mouth ; and African species are 

 said to be used by Egyptian jugglers to stupefy the snakes with 

 which they play tricks. 



1. Asarum. — Perianth polysymmetric, bell-shaped, 3-cleft; 

 stamens 12. 



*2. Aristol6chia.— Perianth monosymmetric, tubular, with a 

 dilated lip ; stamens 6. 



1. Asarum (Asarabacca). — Herbs with a stout rhizome ; radical 

 leaves; a solitary, purplish-green flower, with persistent, 3-lobed 

 perianth ; stamens 1 2 ; ovary 6-chambered ; fruit capsular. (Name 

 of Greek origin, said to denote that it was excluded from 

 garlands.) 



1. A. europcmm (Asarabacca). — The only species found in 

 Britain, and perhaps not indigenous, a curious plant consisting of 

 a very short, fleshly stem, bearing two large, dark-green, kidney- 

 shaped, evergreen leaves and a solitary, purplish-green drooping 

 flower. — Woods ; very rare. — Fl. May. Perennial. 



*2. Aristolochia (Birthwort). — Shrubby, often twining plants, 

 with stalked cauline leaves, and axillary, coloured flowers, with a 

 tubular perianth swollen at the base, lined with hairs and dilated 

 on one side into a lip ; stamens 6, inserted on the style ; ovary 

 6-chambered ; fruit capsular. (Name in Greek denoting the 

 supposed medicinal virtues of the genus.) 



1.* A. Clematitis (Birthwort). — The only species found appar- 

 ently wild in Britain, not indigenous, a singular glabrous plant, 

 with creeping woody rhizome ; slender, erect, angular, unbranched 

 stems ; large, cordate, obtuse leaves, glaucous beneath ; and yellow 

 flowers, 4 — 8 together, expanding into an oblong lip, — Among 

 ruins in the south of England ; rare. — Fl. June — September. 

 Perennial. 



Ord. LXIX. Loranthace^e. — Mistletoe Family 



An interesting Order of parasitic shrubs, comprising about 



500 species, inhabiting tropical and temperate regions. Their 



leaves are usually opposite, fleshy, and evergreen ; and the flowers 



inconspicuous and dioecious. The perianth consists of 4 — 8 seg- 



