O. squilla. L. The well-known medicine, squill, from the
South of Europe ; little cultivated, but very important, and curious
from its association with the Star of Bethlehem.
H yacinthus. L. 6. 1.
Hyacinthus was fabled to have been killed by Zephyrus, and
changed into this flower ; several species have been cultivated for
their beauty. The species from the Levant.
H. orientalis. L. Has many beautiful varieties. Like the
Tulip, this plant has been a great article of trade. The Dutch
export several hundred varieties.
A sparagus. L. 6. 1.
From the Greek to tear, on account of the prickles of some
species-__
A. officinalis. L. The well-known Asparagus, so much
used as a culinary vegetable. It grows along the seashore in
many parts of Britain, and of the continent, as well as in the interior
of Turkey and Russia, commonly flourishing in a sandy
soil. It was greatly praised as an article of food before our era.
Its successful cultivation requires a rich and light soil. The
manure from the hog-pen on a light and sandy loam, produces it in
great perfection, early in the season, and for a long time. Salt
is said to be a favorable stimulant to it, as it is to many plants
which do not delight in the seashore for habitation. It is diuretic
and slightly laxative, and healthful to persons of sedentary habits.
The juice contains a peculiar vegetable substance, called as-
paragin.
A l e t r i s . L. 6. 1.
From the Greek for meal, on account of the mealy dust on the
plants, or some of them ; a North American genus of few species.
Corolla tubulous, 6-cleft at the summit, rugose or wrinkled ;
style conical; capsule 3-celled, 3-valved, opening at the summit.
A. farinosa. L. False Aloe. Colic Root. Stem rises 2 — 3
ASPHODELEJE. 209
feet high, bearing alternate white flowers, with radical and sessile
leaves, long and smooth ; flowers white, and in a spike ; sandy
woods ; July. The root is very bitter, and in small quantities
used as a tonic and stomachic. See Bigelow’s “ Medical
Botany.”
A ll ium. L. 6. 1.
From the Celtic for hot or burning; a large genus, as more
than 60 species have been described, chiefly indigenous to Europe
and the adjoining countries ; a few belong to the United States,
and 2 to Massachusetts.
Corolla 6-parted, spreading; spathe many-flowered ; umbel
crowded ; capsule superior, 3-celled, 3-valved.
A. Canadense. L. Meadow or Wild Onion. Bears bulbs
like the common onion, with flowers terminating a leafless scape
nearly 2 feet high, and leaves linear, and nearly radical; wet
meadows ; May.
A. tricoccum. Ait. Wild Leek. Grows in woods, on hills,
and in valleys, with a round scape a foot high, and oblong, flat,
and smooth leaves ; June. This is often eaten by cattle in the
spring, and the milk of cows is made redolent with its strong and
offensive odor.
A. cepa. L. Onion. From the Celtic for head, probably
from its form of flowers ; too important not to be noticed, and
too well known to need more than a notice ; indigenous to Hungary.
The varieties, which have white, yellow, and red bulbs,
are common in gardens ; the roots contain free phosphoric
acid.
A. Ascalonicum. L. Shallot. Leaves subulate, a native of
Palestine, near Ascalon.
A. sativum. L. Garlic. From Sicily, flat-leafed.
A. porrum. L. Leek. From the Celtic to eat, with leaves
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