42 



MISC. PUBLICATION 



U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



MAYPOP 



Passiflora incarnata L. (Fig. 77.) 



Other common names. — Passionflower, passion vine 



Habitat and range. — This species of maypop grows in dry soil or thickets 

 from Virginia to Missouri and south to Florida and Texas. 



Description. — This plant is a smooth vine with fineh* hairy stems climbing to 

 a height of 10 to 30 feet. Its smooth or somewhat hairy leaves, 3 to 5 inches 

 broad, consist of three oval or egg-shaped lobes with finely toothed margins. 

 The flowers, which appear from May to July, are solitary and are characterized 

 by a lavender and purple or pink and purple fringe Vfa to 2 inches broad. The 

 plant produces smooth, yellow, many-seeded, edible fruit almost 2 inches long, 

 called maypops. 



Part used. — The herb. In reasonably constant demand. 



Figure 



-Maypop (Passiflora incarnata) 



Figure 78. — Moonseed (Menispermum canadense) 



MOONSEED 



Alenispermum canadense L. (Fig. 78.) 



Other common names. — Canada moonseed, menispermum, yellow parilla, 

 Texas sarsaparilla, yellow sarsaparilla, vine maple. 



Habitat and range. — Moonseed is usually found along streams in woods, 

 climbing over bushes, its range extending from Canada to Georgia and Arkansas. 



Description. — This woody climber reaches a length of from 6 to 12 feet, the 

 round, rather slender stem bearing very broad, slender-stalked leaves which are 

 from 4 to 8 inches wide, roundish in shape, and resembling the leaves of some of 

 the maples. In July the loose clusters of small, yellowish or greenish-white 

 flowers are produced, followed in September by bunches of black 1-seeded fruit, 

 covered with a bloom and very much resembling grapes. 



Part used. — The rootstock, collected in autumn. In limited demand only. 



MULLEIN 



Verbascum thapsus L. (Fig. 79.) 



Other common names. — Common mullein, great mullein, mullein dock, velvet 

 dock, Aaron's-rod, Adam's-flannel, old-man 's-flannel, blanket leaf, bullock's lung- 

 wort, cow's lungwort, clown's lungwort, candlewick, feltwort, flannel-leaf, hare's- 

 beard, velvet plant. 



