44 * A COMPENDIUM OF 
like and granular masses, thus differing from 
the dog-bane family. In this species of the As- 
clepiadaceze the flowers are in umbels, with 
drooping, downy peduncles. This plant is rather 
taller and the stalk larger than the asclepias tube- 
rosa. These plants belong to the sexual system 
of Pentandria Digynia. 
Not officinal, but used for the same purposes 
as the variety before mentioned; the root runs 
horizontally, and hence may be considered a 
rhizome. The asclepias was dedicated to the 
father of medicine, Aésculapius, 
Atropia Belladonna, Belladonna, Night- 
shade.—Natural order Solanaceze. This is the 
plant supposed to be the Mandragora of Theo- 
phrastus. The word is derived from the Italian, 
meaning a beautiful lady (see Glossary). The 
Italians use it for the purpose of dilating the 
pupil of the eye to beautify that organ. Bella- 
donna is a native of Central and Southern 
Europe, but cultivated at Hitchen for the drug 
market. The plant is a perennial, and grows 
from 3 to 6 feet in height, somewhat branched; 
the stem is round, velvet , and of a red tinge; 
leaves dark green, broadly ovate, acute, smooth 
and soft; about 4 inches (10 centimeters) in 
length; sometimes pubescent on the under sur- 
face; calyx campanulate and 5-cleft; corolla 
campanulate and five-lobed; border equal to 
stamens five (pentandria), and the berry (fruit) 
as large asa medium cherry, with 2 cells and 
containing many kidney-shaped seeds; flowers 
in June and July. The belladonna radix, or 
Toot, as found in commerce is in cylindrical 
pieces, tapering towards the end; of a light 
