352 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



1. A. officixa'lis, L. Unarmed ; stem herbaceous, erect, paniculately 

 branched ; leaves fasciculate, setaceous and flexible. 



Officixal Asparagus. Asparagus, or (corruptly) " Sparrow Grass." 

 Fr. Asperge. Germ. Der Spargel. Span. Esparrago. 



i?oof perenuial, consisting of numerous coarse flestiy fasciculate fibres. Plant smooth, 

 3-6 feet liigli. — the turions, or young stems, at first simple, stout and flesh}*, with leaves 

 in the form of appressed scales — finally the stem is ramified into a large panicle. Leaves 

 unequal, one-third of an inch to an inch or more in length, very narrow, linear, flat, ab- 

 ruptly acute, in fascicles of 3-10 or 12 (often 6), with a minute ovate acuminate scarious 

 stipule at the base of each fascicle. Peduncles in pairs (sometimes solitary), lateral (not 

 axillary) at the base of the alternate branches, about half an inch long, slender, the 

 uppjr half (above the thickened ring, or articulation) slightly clavate. Calyx pale green- 

 ish-yellow. Berries globose, slightly umbihcate, red when mat>ire. 



Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. i^'L May -July. i^r. September. 



Obs. Almost every garden has a bed of Asparagus roots, for the sake 

 of the young Turions — which afford a favorite vegetable dish in early 

 spring. The plant has in some cases escaped from gardens and become 

 naturalized', especially near the coast. 



2. HEMEROCAL'LIS, i. Day Lily. 



[Greek, Hemera. a day, and Kallos. beauty ; the flower lasting but a day.] 



Perianth funnel form, — the short tube enclosing the ovary. — the 6-parted 

 border spreading and lily-like, withering at the close of the day. Stamens 

 6, inserted at the throat ; filaments and style long and thread-like, de- 

 clined and ascending. Capsule 3-angled, rather fleshy, 3-valved ; seeds 

 several, subglobose, black. Smooth, showy perennials with fleshy-fibrous 

 roots and long linear-keeled leaves, 2-ranked at the base of the tall scapes 

 which bear at the summit several large showy bractedj^ow'ers. 

 1. H. ful'va, L. Perianth copper-colored or orange-tawny, the inner 

 lobes obtuse and wavy on the margin. 

 Tawny Hemerocallis. Day Lily. 



ieai"e5 about 2 feet long and an inch wide, acute. Scape 3-4 feet high, corymbosely 

 branched at summit, the branches 6?-a€fea^ at base. Perianth about 4 inches long, — 

 the tube contracted, about an inch in length. 



Gardens and about houses. Native of China. July. 



Obs. This has strayed from gardens, where it is often cultivated and 

 is naturalized in many places. It is very difficult to eradicate when 

 once established. The H. flava, L., a yellow-flowered species of smaller 

 growth, is often seen in gardens. 



3. ORNITHOG'ALUM, Tounicf. Star of Bethlehem, 



[Greek, Ornis, ornithos, a bird, and gala, milk ; an ancient whimsical name.] 



Perianth white, (or partly colored.) corolla-like, of 6 sepals slightly con- 

 nected at base, spreading above the middle, 3- 1-nerved. Stamens^Q, the 

 filaments dilated at base, narrowed and subulate at apex. Style 3-sided ; 



