emarginated segments. Petals 5, large, sub-rotund, sprea@- 
= ~ ing, at first white, afterwards reddish, and finally becom- 
ing greenish. Nectaries about 8, tubulated, slightly com- 
pressed, bilabiated, greenish yellow. Filaments white, 
anthers yellow; germens from 4 to 8; seeds shining, 
blackish, numerous. 
Leaves compound, or rather pedate simple ; all radical, on 
long petioles. Folioles elliptical, smooth, thick, and ser- 
rated towards apex. Often vary to the lanceolate form. 
Native of Austria and Italy; first cultivated in England, by 
- Gerard, in 1596; flowers, in mild seasons, in January. In 
- the U. States, not before May or April. 
Whether this be the EaasGegee weazc and Meazercduy, of the 
Grecks, and the helleborus; Elleboras; veratrum, of the 
Latins, cannot now be certainly determined. Melampo- 
dium, is supposed to be derived from Melampus, an an- 
_cient physician, who used it in mania, as an ulterative 
purge. The following plants have been ignorantly sub- 
stituted for this, in Europe, viz: helleborus viridis. Adonis 
autumnclis; Trollius EB ; Actea spiecta; Astruntia 
major; and Aconitum Nospelas-in the United States, the 
Cimeifuga serpentaria ; allthesé possess different proper- : 
ties from the true black Hellebore. The internal part of 
the fibres of Cimicifuga serpentaria are white, not yellow, 
by which it may be distinguished from the Hellchores 
. which is nt found in commerce, twisted or 
plated by its fibres, 28 0 ae ee Ba 
Qvuauities. Taste of fresh root bitterish, somewhat acrid; 
and according to Grew, retained in the mouth some time 
after chewing, affects the tongue with paralysis—giving 
the sensation as if the mouth and tongue were scalded. It 
emits a nauseous acrid smell; its sensible properties and 
medicinal] activity, are diminished by keeping. Bergius 
says, recent it is poisonous, rubifacient, vesicating ; re- 
cently dried, emmenagogue, purgative, sternutatory ; long 
kept, slightly purgative, alterative, diuretic. 
Mepicat Prorentirs anp Uses. Employed in Europe. 
chiefly as an alterative, and there, as well as in the U. 
States, the tincture of the root (tr. Melampodii) is much 
used as an efficacious emmenagogue. It is, for this put- 
pose, powerful and effective. Dose, from Mxyv to 3) 
Or Zjss. 
_- The root has been used in dropsies; in lepra Grecorum. The 
» Watery extract is the best formula—contains both the 
wurgative and diuretic properties. Dose grs. 10 to BJ. 
Fhis species is not considered by Willdenow, the Helle-  _ 
ore of the ancients—which he thinks is the Helleberus 
» or Anticyran Hellebore. 
