131 Class XIII. Order VI. 



fertile flowers having imperfect anthers. The most remark- 

 able appearance of this plant is when in fruit ; the long feath- 

 ery tails of the seeds appearing like tufts of wool. Grows in 

 low ground. Very abundant on the banks of the Neponset 

 river, Milton. August. 



167. HELLEBORUS. 



HELLEBORUS TRIFOLIUS. L. Gold thread. 



. Scape oue flowered ; leaves ternate. L. 



A small delicate plant found among the leaves and moss in 

 pine swamps, Sec. The roots creep extensively, and are of a 

 bright yellow colour. Leafets in threes, evergreen, roundish, 

 lobed and crcnate, acute at base. Scape bearing one small, 

 starry, white flower. Nectaries within the petals, cup shaped. 

 Stamens white. Pistils on footstalks which afterward form an 

 umbel supporting the capsules. Flowers in April and May. 

 Perennial. 



The root is a very pure bitter, but nearly destitute of astrin r 

 gency. It is a popular remedy for aphthous affections of the 

 mouth, and great quantities are sold in the shops. 



168. CALTHA. 

 CALTHA PALUSTRIS. L. Marsh Marigold. Meadow cowslip. 



Stem erect; leaves round heart shaped. 

 Forster. 



Brought to market in the spring under the name of Cow- 

 slifis. At that season its bright yellow blossoms are very com- 

 mon and conspicuous in meadows and wet situations. Stem 

 upright, furrowed. Leaves smooth, heart or kidney shaped, 

 crenate, the radical ones on petioles, those of the stem nearly 

 sessile. Flowers on axillary stalks, with large, roundish, glos- 

 sy petals of a bright yellow, as are the stamens. The young 

 buds are sometimes substituted for capers.- Perennial. 



