CLASS POLYANDRIA. 117 



from the bosom of the withered leaves of the forest, 

 by which they are commonly protected from the cut- 

 ting winds of the season. The roots, growing in clus- 

 ters, are abrupt, and thickish tubers full of a bitter, 

 milky sap of a brownish, bright red color, appearing 

 almost like blood. From these issue low stems, each 

 consisting of a single lobed leaf, at first folded over 

 the stalk and its only flower, which is protected by a 

 2-leaved, deciduous calyx. The corolla consists of 

 about 8 expanded petals ; 2 stigmas ; the capsule 

 oblong, and pointed, 2-valved, 1 -celled, with many 

 seeds attached to 2 filiform receptacles. Allied to this 

 genus, but forming the type of a distinct natural order, 

 is the 



Podophyllum, or May-Apple, falsely called Man- 

 drake, of which genus, like the preceding, there 

 is but a single species known, and both of the plants 

 are peculiar to North America. This plant is also 

 one of the characteristic, and rather common vernal 

 ornaments of our forests. The roots run profusely, 

 are esteemed in medicine as a valuable cathartic, and 

 send up, at near intervals, stems with 2 leaves of an 

 orbicular form, and lobed on the margin, with that pe- 

 culiar and uncommon mode of attachment in the pe- 

 tiole, under the centre of the disk, which constitutes 

 the peltate leaf, and hence its specific name of pelta- 

 tum. From the centre of these 2 leaves issues a single 

 pedunculated, nodding, white, and rather large con- 

 cave flower, having a 3-leaved calyx ; about 9 petals ; a 

 large crenate, or rather crested stigma ; a thick skinned, 

 1-celled, ovate, large berry, containing many seeds im- 

 mersed in a one-sided, large, and diaphanously pulpy 

 receptacle ; which pulp, at first foetid, when ripe, be- 

 comes, with the whole opaque berry, fragrant, of a very 

 pleasant sweetish acid taste, and as the May-Apple, is 

 commonly eaten, and considered wholesome. 



