MISC. PUBLICATION 



U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



DESCRIPTION OF, AND INFORMATION CONCERNING, THE PLANTS 



ALETRIS 



Aletris farinosa L. (Fig. 1.) 



Other common names. — Stargrass, blazing star, mealy starwort, starwort 

 unicorn root, true unicorn root, unicornplant, unicorn's-horn, colicroot, devil's- 

 bit, ague grass, ague root, aloeroot, crow corn, huskwort. Some of the common 

 names are also used in connection with Helonias (Chamaelirium hrteum (L.) 

 A. Gray), which causes much confusion, although the two plants do not bear any 

 close resemblance. It is best, therefore, to designate it as Aletris, under which 

 name it is best known in the drug trade. 



Habitat and range. — Aletris occurs in dry, generally sandy soil, from Maine 

 to Minnesota, Florida, and Tennessee. 



Description. — This plant is an erect slender herb l 1 ? to 3 feet tall with leaves 

 only at the base. These are grasslike, of a yellowish green color, and from 2 to 6 

 inches long. They surround the base of the stem in the form of a star, in this 

 respect differing distinctly from starwort (Chamaelirium luteum), with which it 

 is sometimes confused, as stated. The erect, flowering spike produced from May 

 to July bears white urn-shaped flowers sometimes tinged with yellow. 



Other species. — Three other species of Aletris, namely, Aletris aurea Walt., A. 

 hdea Small, and A. obovata Nash, bear much resemblance to A. farinosa and are 

 for this reason no doubt frequently collected with the latter. 



Part used. — The rootstock, which should be collected in autumn. In reason- 

 ably constant demand. 



Figure 1.— Aletris (Aletris farinosa) 



Figure 2.— American bittersweet (Celastrus 

 scandens) 



AMERICAN BITTERSWEET 



Celastrus scandens L. (Fig. 2.) 



Other common names. — False bittersweet, climbing bittersweet, shrubby 

 bittersweet, fevertwig, fever-twitch, staff tree, climbing staff tree, staff vine, 

 waxwork, Roxbury waxwork, yellowroot, climbing orange-root, Jacob's-ladder. 



Habitat and range. — This woody vine or climbing shrub is found in woods and 

 thickets, growing in rich damp soil from Ontario to Manitoba and south to North 

 Carolina and New Mexico. 



Description. — American bittersweet is a woody and shrubby climber, growing 

 over trees or fences. It has smooth thin leaves 2 to 4 inches long and about half 

 as wide. The small greenish-white or greenish-yellow flowers are produced in 

 June in short clusters. The fruit is a roundish, orange-yellow capsule which 

 opens in autumn, disclosing the scarlet-colored seed- The seed capsules remain on 

 the plant well into the cold season. 



Part used. — The bark of the plant and root, but especially that of the root. 

 In limited demand only, 



