206 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



tains a peculiar vegetable alkali, called veratrin, which is the 

 source of its dangerous properties. The pulverized root, when 

 snuffed into the nose, produces violent and long continued sneez- 

 ing, and should be avoided, as it endangers the vessels of the 

 head. Boys sometimes make dangerous experiments with it. 



The root of Colchicum autumnale, L., so distinguished since 

 the days of Hippocrates, as a medicine, contains the same alkali, 

 veratrin, which probably gives its diuretic, cathartic, and narcotic 

 properties. I have not known of its cultivation in this State ; 

 indigenous to Europe. 



ORDER 246. PONTEDERE^. 



Flower or perianth tubular, 6-parted, inferior, colored, irregu- 

 lar ; stamens 3 or 6, unequal, standing about the style ; ovary 

 1 - 3-celled, 3-valved ; leaves sheathing at the base, with parallel 

 veins ; flowers from a spathe, often blue ; aquatic plants, showy 

 from their deep-green leaves and fine flowers, but not of any use. 

 Not found native in Europe. 



PONTEDERIA. L. 6. 1. 



Named in honor of Professor Pontedera of Padua, more than 

 a century ago ; a genus of few species, 3 in this country, and 1 

 in this State. Perianth 2-lipped, 3 stamens on its lip, and 3 on 

 the tube ; seeds in a utricle or bladder-like capsule. 



P. cordata. L. Pickerel Weed. Stem 1 or 2 feet high, 

 thick, large, with oblong-cordate leaves rising from the lower 

 part ; flowers in a long, dense spike, collected into twos or threes, 

 sessile, bright-blue. 



In Berkshire County, Pickerel Weed has abounded on the 

 waters of the Housatonic River, but Pickerel fish were not found 

 in the streams till they were brought from the waters of Con- 

 necticut River and put into the ponds. 



P. angustifolia. Ph. A narrower leafed plant, found in a 



pond in Leverett ; considered by Dr. Torrey only a variety of 



the former species. Another species is found in South Carolina 

 and Georgia. 



