No. 26. C0HV0IiVT7LUS. l^j 



The true jalap of commerce has been ascribed to se- 

 veral plants, and a controveisy exists on the subject. 

 This plant is one of the false jalaps, the others are the 

 /po?7t€a 7?iacrorhiza oi^ Mioh&ixxy found from Georgia 

 to Yucatan on the sandy shores, and several Bind- 

 weeds growing in South America. The true C.Ja- 

 lapa appears to grow on the Andes of South America 

 and ]Mexico» 



Our C, pandiiratiis has also been mistaken for Sca- 

 mony. Rhubarb and Mecboacan. The native name 

 of Mechameck ought to be given to it as a distinc- 

 tive appellation. It blossoms in summer, from June 

 to August* It was named panduratus by Linnaeus, 

 ])ecause the leaves are often lobed on the sides like a 

 fiddle ; but this does not always happen, and some 

 plants have all the leaves cordate and entire. 



The cathartic properties of this plant and of Ipo- 

 Tnea macrorhiza have been denied by Bigelovv, 

 Baldwin, &c. and even the latter considered as edible; 

 but it appears that all the species of these two ge- 

 nera, having milky roots, are more or less cathartic, 

 particularly when fresh. 



They both belong to Pestandria monogynia of 

 Linnaeus* Convolvulus^ (like ^£;o/va/w,s) derives from 



the twining habit of the genus. 



Locality — Common all over the United States^ 

 from Canada and New England to Florida and Mis- 

 souri, in poor and loose soils, sandy and slaty fields, 

 gravelly hills and alluvions, open glades and thickets; 

 but seldom in shady woods. 



Qualities — The taste and smell of the root, ap- 

 proximate to Scamony and Jalap ; but are less nau- 



l2 



