No. 4. 



39 



This species has a wide range, being found from 

 New England to Georgia, and west to Kentucky and 

 Missouri. 13iit the A* Aurea is confined to the south 

 from Carolina to Alabama. The A. farinosa is also 

 inore abundant in the south, and always confined to 

 ixiy and poor soils, in sunny glades and iields. It is 

 unknown in the rich lunestone soils and alluvial re- 

 gions. In Kentucky and the west it is confined to 

 the hilly glades, open prairies and barrens of the 

 knob-hills. It is estival, blossoming in June and 



July. 



Many vulgar names given to it are common to 

 other plants, dissimilar in properties if not in aspect. 



The Veratritm luttum or dioicum which is also 

 ealled Star-grass, may be distinguished by its thick 

 plumose dioical spike. The Sisyrinchium^ another 

 Star-grass, has single, blue and triandrous flowers, 

 besides long grass leaves. Unicorn -root is also a 

 name of Vtrairum and oi Neottia. Ague-root is a 

 name applicable to a dozen- roots. Such is the con* 

 fusion arising from vulgar names. The root is the 

 part employed, and being small, does not afford much 

 hope to become an article of trade. 



Qualities — The root contains an intense bitter 

 emulsive resin, soluble in Alcohol, somewhat similar 

 to Aloes, but less cathartic. This bitter principle is 

 also partly soluble in water. The tincture is render- 

 ed milky by water. 1 he resin is therefore different 

 from Amarine and Aloine, and is perhops a peculiar 

 compound, Jlhtrine^ formed by Amarine* an oil and 

 ti gum. 



