Aristolochia

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

a genus of plants, the typical one of the order aristolochiaceæ, or birthworts. They have curiously inflated irregular flowers, in some cases of large size. One species, the A. clematis, or common birthwort, a plant with pale yellow tubular flowers, swollen at the base, is common among old ruins. Most of the aristolochias are emmenagogue, especially the European species, A. rotunda, longa, and clematitis, and the Indian A. Indica; the last-named species is also antarthritic. A. bracteata is anthelmintic; when bruised and mixed with castor-oil, it is used in cases of ob- ARISTOLOCHIACEÆ stinate psora. A. odoratissima, of the West Indies, is alexipharmic. The A. fragrantissima, of Peru, is given in dysenteries, fevers, rheumatism, etc.; A. serpentaria (the Virginian snake root), besides being given in the worst forms of typhus fever, is deemed of use against snake-bite; as is also A. trilobata. ARISTOLOCHIACEE (ar-is-to-lō-kea'sē-i), an order of plants placed by Lindley under his last or asaral alliance of perigynous exogens. It has hermaphrodite flowers, six to ten epigynous stamina, a three or six celled inferior ovary and wood without concentric zones. There are about 130 species. Many are climbing plants. In their qualities they are tonic and stimulating. (ar-is-tof'e-nēs), ARISTOPHANES the greatest of the Greek writers of comedy (B. C. 448-385), born at Athens. His comedy, "The Knights," is said to have been put on the stage when the author was but 20 years old. Of his 44 plays only 11 have come down to us. These are "The Knights," "The Clouds," "The Wasps," "The Acharnians," "The Peace," and "The Lyristrate," arguments for concord among Grecian states; "The Birds," a satire against the "Greater Athens" idea; "The Thesmophoriazusæ"; "The Frogs," directed against Euripides, as the cause of the degeneration of dramatic art; in "The Ecclesiazuse," or "Ladies of Parliament," he reduces to absurdity the overweening expectation of the righting of all wrongs through political reforms. Aristophanes first appeared as a poet in the fourth year of the Peloponnesian War (B. c. 427), and his sarcasms twice brought him to trial on charges of having unlawfully assumed the title of an Athenian citizen.