150 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Spigelia. L. 5. 1. 



S. JVIarylandica. L. Pink Root. The genus was named 

 after Professor A. Spigelius, of Padua. This species has been 

 cultivated by the Shakers. It is the well-known vermifuge, under 

 the name of Carolina Pink ; a handsome plant, with opposite, 

 sessile leaves, and a terminal cluster of crimson flowers. For 

 its medicinal properties, consult Bigelovv's " Medical Botany." 

 A native of the Southern States. 



Another species, a native of the West Indies, has the same 

 vermifuge character in a higher degree, and both, like opium, pro- 

 duce sleep, and sometimes dangerous symptoms. 



ORDER 199. CONVOLVULACE^. The Bindweed 



Tribe. 



Two floral envelopes, both 5-lobed, inferior, with 5 stamens in- 

 serted into the base of the corolla ; stems often twining, smooth, 

 and milky ; rarely leafless ; ovary simple, few-seeded. 



Convolvulus. L. 5. 1. Bindweed. 



From the Latin, to entwine ; contains 150 species, chiefly 

 natives of India and the tropical parts of America ; some are 

 mere weeds, some are quite beautiful, and some very useful. 



C. sepium. L. Wild Morning Glory. Named specifically 

 from its frequenting hedges and thickets ; often called Great 

 Bindweed ; a beautiful twining plant ; grows on low grounds, 

 running over shrubs, and bearing large, whitish, and reddish blos- 

 soms, in June. 



C. stans. Mx. Dwarf Morning Glory. About a foot high, 

 erect, bearing one or two whitish flowers ; sandy woods ; .luly. 

 Sometimes cultivated. 



C. purpureus. L. Common Morning Glory. A beautiful 

 twining plant, with fine, large, purple flowers ; grows often 20 feet 

 high ; cultivated about houses for ornament ; partially naturalized, 

 but introduced from the warmer parts of North America. 



