254 
ASCLEPIAS 
details). The process may be watched on A. Cornuti Dene, in 
gardens. 
Asimina Adans. Anonaceae (2). 6 sp. East. U.S. 
Aspalatxius Linn. Leguminosae (ill. 3). 150 sp. S. Afr. Many are 
xerophytes with a heath-like habit. 
Asparagus Tourn. (incl. Alyrsiphyllum Willd.). Liliaceae (vn). 100 sp. 
Old World, mostly in dry places. Rhizome with aerial shoots; leaves 
reduced to scales with linear green shoots in their axils, usually 
in tufts. These are small condensed cymes, of the type stem 
shown in the diagram (figs, represent the branches of sue- 1 
cessive orders). The number of shoots that develope varies. 2 2 
In the infl. the same construction holds, the shoots 2, 2, 33 
bearing the firs. In the sub-genus M. there are flat phyllo- 4 4 
clades (cf. Ruscus). Fruit a berry. A. officinalis L. is leaf 
largely cultivated as a vegetable; the young shoots are 
eaten. 
Aspasia Lindl. Orchidaceae (28). 8 sp. trop. Am. 
Asperifoliae = Boraginaceae. 
Asperugo (Tourn.) Linn. Boraginaceae (iv. 2). 1 sp. Eur., As. 
Asperula Linn. Rubiaceae (11. 21). 80 sp. Eur., As., Austr. &c., chiefly 
Medit. A. odorata L. (woodruff) and A. cynanchica L. (squinancy- 
wort), in Brit. Firs, homogamous. Those of the latter sp. show two 
forms, one with smooth white obtuse petals, one with rough reddish 
acute petals. The fruit of woodruff is hooked. 
Asphodeline Rchb. Liliaceae (ill). 14 sp. Medit. 
Asphodelus (Tourn.) Linn. Liliaceae (in). 7 sp. Medit. (the Asphodel). 
Its leaves are isobilateral and flrs. protogynous. 
Aspicarpa Rich. Malpighiaceae. 5 sp. Texas to Argentina. 
Aspidistra Ker-Gawl. Liliaceae (vn). 3 sp. E. As. A. elatior Blume 
is often cultivated. The large flat style forms a lid to the cavity of 
the flr. made by the 8 perianth-leaves. Into this the pollen is shed, 
and it is supposed that the mechanism is like that of Arum. Others 
suggest that it is snail-fertilised. 
Aspidium Sw. Synonymy: A. aemulum Sw., cristatum Sw., dilatatum 
Willd., Filix-mas Sw., Oreopteris Sw., rigidum Sw., spinulosum Sw., 
Thelypteris Sw. =Nephrodium (same spec, names); A. Filix-foemina 
Sw. = Asplenium F.-f. 
Polypodiaceae 60 sp. cosmop. A. aculeatum Sw. (prickly 
shield-fern) and A . Lonchitis Sw. (holly-fern) in Brit. 
Asplenium Linn. Polypodiaceae. About 300 sp. cosmop. 1 1 sp. in 
Brit., including A. Filix-foemina Bernh. (lady-fern), A. Ruta-muraria 
L. (wall-spleenwort), A. Trichomanes L. (spleenwort) and A. Adian- 
tum-nigrum (black spleenwort). The var. clarissima of the lady-fern 
shows apogamy (see Filicineae, Lepto.). A. bulbiferum Forst. and 
other sp. are ‘viviparous/ producing young plants on their leaves by 
vegetative budding (not to be confounded with apospory). A. Nidus 
