62 COPTIS TRIFOLIA, 
In botanical arrangements, the Coptis will fol- 
low the Hellebores, from which it was taken, re- 
maining in the class and order Polyandria, Polygy- 
mia, with the Multisilique of Linneus and the 
Ranunculacee of Jussieu. ()., f 
The roots of this plant, from which the name 
of goldthread is taken, are perennial and creeping. 
On removing the moss and decayed leaves from 
the surface of the ground, they discover them- 
selves of a bright yellow colour, running in every 
direction, The bases of the new stems are in- 
vested with a number of yellowish, ovate, acumi- 
nate stipules. Leayes ternate, on long slender 
petioles ; leafets roundish, acute at base, lobed 
and crenate, the crenatures acuminate ; smooth, 
firm, yeiny. Scape slender, round, bearing one 
small, starry white flower, and a minute, ovate, 
acute bracte at some distance below. Calyx none. 
Petals five, six or seven, oblong, concave, white, 
Nectaries five or six, inversely conical, hollow, yel- 
low at the mouth. Stamens numerous, white, 
with capillary filaments and roundish anthers. 
Germs from five to seven, stipitate, oblong, com- 
pressed; styles recurved. Capsules pedicelled, 
umbelled, oblong, compressed, beaked, with nu- 
merous black oval seeds attached to the inner side. 
The root of this plant is a pure intense bitter, 
