40 
ASARUM ARIFOLIUM. | 
Arum-leaved Asarabacca. 
~ 
DODECANDRIA MONOGYNIA.—Nat. Ov. ARISTOLOCHIA. 
Gen. Cuar.—Calyx 3- seu 4-fidus, germini insidens. Corolla nulla. Cap- 
sula coriacea, coronata. 
Asarum arifolium ; foliis subhastato-cordatis, calyce tubuloso, infra lim-_ 
bum brevissime trifidum coarctatum.—Mich. 
A. arifolium, Micuaux, Fl. Bor. Am. v.i. p.279.—Pursu, Fl. of N. Am. v. ui. 
p- 596. 
The root I have not seen. Stem extremely short, and scarcely rising above 
the surface of the ground. One single leaf terminates this short stem, 
which is cordato-hastate, subcoriaceous, smooth and shining, slightly un- 
dulated, the margin entire, dark green, with large spots or blotches of a 
paler hue; petiolated, the petiole cylindrical. From the base of the 
petiole, through a small longitudinal cleft, appears the solitary flower, 
scarcely an inch long, drooping, on a short curved stalk. Perianth single, 
oblongo-urceolate, of a thick coriaceous substance, of a dull green colour, 
and veined ; the limb is trifid, with the lobes recurved. The inside of the 
tubular part is velvety, and of a deep purple colour. 
Stamens 12 in number, surrounding and concealing the style ; filaments 
purplish, subulate, thick, having on each side, attached to nearly their 
whole length, a linear oblong cell of an anther. Pollen subquadrangu- 
lar. Germen scarcely at all inferior. Style short, thick, columnar, ter- 
minated by a stigma with 6, nearly erect, bifid rays, brownish, spotted 
with purple. At the back of e&ch of these rays is an ovate, purple, fleshy 
gland or swelling. © a | 
That this is the dsarum arifolium of Micuaux, there 
can be, I should think, no doubt, since it so fully accords with 
the character given of that plant in the Mora Borealt-Ame- 
ricana of that author. Living plants were sent to our garden 
from the Savannah by Mr Wixson; and they flowered with 
us in the summer. 
OL. 1. 
