CAROLINA PINK ROOT. 143 
four sided and nearly smooth. Leaves opposite, 
sessile, ovate, acuminate, entire, smooth, with the 
margins and veins sometimes pubescent. The 
stalk commonly terminates in a simple one-sided 
raceme of flowers, although I have seen luxuriant 
specimens with two. The peduncles are extreme- 
ly short, so that the raceme may without impro- 
priety be denominated a spike. Calyx persistent, 
with five linear-subulate, finely serrulate leaves, 
which are reflexed in the ripe fruit.” Corolla five 
times as long as the calyx, scarlet or crimson 
without, orange coloured within, the tube inflated 
and angular at top, the border divided into five 
acute, spreading segments. Stamens very short, 
inserted into the mouth of the corolla between the 
segments ; anthers oblong-heart shaped. Germ 
small, superior, ovate. Style longer than the co- 
rolla, jointed near its base and bearded at the ex- 
tremity. Capsule double, consisting of two, co- 
hering, one celled, globular portions, seated on a 
common receptacle. 
The Spigelia is a mucilaginous plant, witha 
mild and not very disagreeable taste. The infu- 
sion and decoction of the root and leaves afford 
a fiocculent precipitate with alcohol. They are 
discoloured but not precipitated by silicated pot- 
ash. They have little sensibility to gelatin, al- 
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