BIRTHWORT FAMILY 
( Aristolochiacece ) 
A small family of low herbs or twining vines, with 
but two genera and few species. 
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) may be found 
flowering in rich woods during April and May, from Me. 
to Mich, and southwards. It has two, large, heart- 
shaped leaves on long petioles from the base; deep 
green above and lighter below, soft, wooly and hand¬ 
somely veined. 
The leaves are very beautiful, but it is the solitary 
flower that makes this plant so interesting. Small, 
dully colored, on a weak, short stem that barely raises 
it above ground and often leaves it concealed by the 
dead leaves that carpet the woods in early Spring. 
The flower is bell-shaped, with three short, sharply- 
pointed, spreading lobes; six stamens with short anthers 
and a thick style with six radiating stigmas. Another 
species (grandiflorum), found in Va. and N. C. has but 
one leaf and flowers twice as large, or two inches ir 
length. 
