17^ Etrp ATOBxnnc. no. 36. 



efficient, and being also best known, deserves a pre- 

 ference, although several are useful substitutes in 

 som6 cases- It is by no means a handsome plant, 

 while many congeneric are quite elegant plants, in- 

 troduced into many gardens, Such are the E. celesii- 

 num with beautiful azure blossoms, common all along 

 the western streams, and the E. purpureum with 

 large purple flowers, on a stem five to eight feet 

 high, with whorled leaves. 



The genus belongs to the great Natural Order of 

 Corymbose plants, family Flosculose^ or to Synge- 

 nesia Equalis of Linnaeus. It takes its name from 

 Mithridates Eupator, an ancient eastern king ; it was 

 first given to the E. cannabinum, the Asiatic and 

 European species, whose medical powers were made 

 known by him j it is an emetic, purgative and altera- 

 tive like this. 



They are all autumnal plants: this blossoms from 

 August to October. 



Locality — Common in swamps, marshes, and 

 near streams, from Maine to Florida, and from Ohio 

 to Louisiana: where it appears to have been stationed 

 by the benevolence of nature, wherever men are 

 liable to local fevers. It is found also in Nova Scotia, 

 Canada, Missouri, Arkansas, &c. 



Qualities — The whole plant, roots, stems, leaves, 

 and flowers are intensely bitter, but not astringent; 

 they have a peculiar flavor and faint smell. They 

 have been analized by Anderson, Bigetow and Lau- 

 rence, and found to contain Extractive, Amarine, a 

 gum, a resin, an acid similar to the gallic. Acetate of 



