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Was 
's * MEDICAL BOTANY. 
simple. ‘Pruit either consisting of dry achenia, or baccate, with one or more seeds, or ea a Renda a q 
Seeds albuminous; when solitary, either erect or pendulous. Embryo minute, th vittish divided, with dis gaa 
are herbaceous plants or rarely shrubs. Their we are alternate or opposite, generally muc P 
; casi esent. Hairs simple. oS 
Oe Woukeatt ts side tebe to this family aii a principle of activity. Tn some of oe it s on ie Bei 
inducing violent irritation in the animal economy. In many it is volatile and fugitive, as 7 in at Where's & ae 
or exists as a volatile oil, as in Hellebore ; in others it has the properties of an alkaloid, agsier ues ae 
bitter principle exists, as in Golden-thread, it is mild in operation. The division into sub-orders in a measure recon- 
ciles this difference in the active principles, and makes them harmonize with the botanical characters. 
HELLEBORUS NIGER. 
on LINN AUS. 
BLACK HELLEBORE. 
Sex. Syst.—Polyandria, Polygynia. ! : 
Gen. Cuar.—Calyz persistent, of five sepals, roundish, obtuse, large, usually green. Petals eight to ten, very 
short, tubular, narrow, and nectariferous beneath. Stamens thirty to sixty-four. Ovaries three to ten. Stigmas ter- 
minal, orbicular. Capsules coriaceous. Seeds in a double row, elliptical, umbilicated. De Candolle. 
Spectr. Cuar.—Root (rhizoma) perennial, knotted, and fibrous, black externally, white internally. Leaves pedate, 
of a deep green colour, radical on long footstalks. The lobes or leaflets are five or more in number, one central ; they 
are ovate lance-shaped, smooth, shining, coriaceous and serrated in their upper portion. Peduncles radiate, five or six 
inches high, round, tapering, reddish at the base, supporting one or two large flowers, with floral leaves. Sepals five, 
large, roundish, concave, spreading, white or pale rose-colour at first, green subsequently. ; 
The Black Hellebore is an inhabitant of the mountainous districts of Southern fvurope. It is found in Switzerland, _ 
France, Spain, and Italy. In consequence of flowering in the middle of winter, and being used as a decoration at the 
feast of Christmas, it has been called the Christmas Rose. The root, which is the part used in medicine, is a d 
_ cathartic, and is used in cases of mania. In.smaller doses it is emmenagogue. 
bitter principles exist in it, which undoubtedly are the active principles. 
= eal 
The H. officinalis of Dr. Sibthorp, found by him in Greece, is the H. niger orientalis of Tournefort, and H. 
orientalis of De Candolle. It has been thought to be the Hellebore of Dioscorides. The roots are not exported. . 
Prate 1.—The plant in flowtr, nectariferous petal and capsules. aos | : 
. ACONITUM NAPELLUS. 
LINNEUS. © aS os ; 
— WOLFSBANE, RUNESHGOD. 3. - 
Sex. Sysr—Polyandria, Trigynia. Sage 
_ Gen. Cuar.—Calyz petaloid, irregular, deciduous, or 
_ two, superior ; nectaries on — expanded at the.apex into a bag hidden beneath 1 
_ Srecir. Cuar.—Flomers densely spiked, or lc micled. Helmet semicircular, 
_ the petals somewhat conical. Spur short, thick, inc . Wings of the stamens vida’ 
the leaves cuneate, pinnatisect. Ovaries three, rarely five, smooth or pilose. De 
