N. ORD.-UMBELLIFERZ. es 
GENUS.—THASPIUM,* NUTT. 
SEX. SYST.—PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA, 
ZIZIAS 
MEADOW PARSNIPS. 
SYN.—THASPIUM AUREUM, NUTT.; ZIZIA AURBA, KOCH.; SMYRNIUM 
AUREUM, LINN.; SMYRNIUM LUTEUM, MUHL.; SMYRNIUM ACU- 
-MINATUM, SMITH; SISSON TRIFOLATUM, MICHX.; SISSON AU- 
REUS, SPRENG. 
COM. NAMES.—MEADOW PARSNIP, GOLDEN MEADOW PARSNEP, GOL- 
DEN ALEXANDERS, ROUNDHEART; (GER.) GOLDEN PASTINAKE. 
A TINCTURE OF THE WHOLE PLANT THASPIUM AUREUM, NUTT. 
Description.—This erect, perennial herb attains a height of from 1 to 3 feet. 
Root tap-shaped, 2 to 4 inches long by % to 34 of an inch in diameter, yellow 
internally. Leaves 1- to 2-ternately parted or divided ; /ower leaves on long 
petioles, sometimes simple or more or less cordate ; upper leaves sessile or nearly 
so; leaflets 1 to 2 inches long, oblong-lanceolate, cut serrate, the dases elongated 
cuneate. Jnflorescence axial or terminal compound umbels, on long, naked pedun- 
cles ; zzvolucre inconspicuous or absent; pedicels 10 to 20 elongating in fruit; in- 
volucels minute, few-leaved; flowers deep, orange-yellow. Calyx teeth obscure. 
Petals oblong, terminated by an inflexed tip. /7razt oval-oblong, somewhat flat- 
tened or laterally contracted; ridges ro-winged ; ¢vansverse section orbicular ; vitte 
solitary in each sulcus, and 2 in the commissure. Read description of the natural 
order, under Eryngium, 62. 
History and Habitat.—The Meadow Parsnip is quite a common indigenous 
plant on the moist banks of streams, and in open, wet woods, where it flowers in 
June and July. I find no mention of this plant in medical literature. The genus 
is spoken of by Rafinesquef as yvulnerary, antisyphilitic, and sudorific. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The whole fresh plant (the prover 
used only the root) is chopped and pounded toa pulp and weighed. Then two 
parts by weight of alcohol are taken, the pulp mixed thoroughly with one-sixth 
part of it, and the rest of the alcohol added. After having stirred the whole well, 
pour it into a well-stoppered bottle, and allow it to stand eight days in a dark, 
cool place. 
Thapsia, named from the Isle of Thapsus. 
* A play upon the genus 
Sa which the plant was proven, See second synonym, 
¢ I have retained the name under 
¢ Med. Bot., vol. ii, p. 267. 
