26 
ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA. 
(tuberous-rooted swallow- wort.) 
CLASS. order. 
PENTANDRIA. DIGYNIA. 
natural order. 
ASCLEPIADE^. 
Generic Character. — Calyx five-cleft. Corolla five-parted. Pollen masses fixed by a fine end. 
Stigma depressed, and blunt. 
Specific Character.— J?oo^ tuberous. Stem erect, hairy, growing two feet bigb, spreading into nume- 
rous branches at the top. Leaves opposite, occasionally verticillate, linear-lanceolate, or oblong- 
lanceolate, hairy. Flowers orange, tinged with red. 
This species is a native of North America, from whence it was introduced so 
long ago as 1690. It is perfectly hardy, and requires little care to bring it to 
perfection. The soil should be light (peat and sandy loam suits it best), and the 
border sheltered and dry. It is propagated by dividing the roots, and by seeds, 
which it occasionally produces. 
All the hardy herbaceous species are easy of culture ; the A, Syriaca and 
phytolaccoides will grow in any common garden soil, provided the situation be 
dry ; but the virgata, cenerea, acuminata^ amplexicaulis, paupercula, ohtusi- 
folia, polystachya., and quadrifolia, flower much finer if the soil be made very 
rich, if at the same time it be quite light. The amcena, incarnataj purpurascens, 
pulchra, &c. &c., and indeed nearly all the other hardy herbaceous kinds require a 
large portion of peat mixed with the soil ; in fact, they perhaps grow better in peat 
altogether. They are all increased by division of the roots, and by seeds. 
