212 FLORA HOMOEOPATH ICA. 



externally ; at the base a number of long white fibres. Stem 

 from two to five feet high, erect, simple, and hairy. Flowers 

 greenish-white, in a large, branching, downy panicle, with 

 alternate spikelets terminating the stem. Leaves large, elliptical, 

 entire, ovate-oblong, plaited, of a fine green colour ; the upper 

 ones become oblong, lanceolate bracteas. The perianth consists 

 of six subpetaloid pieces of a pale green colour, which are 

 oblong, lanceolate, veined, spreading, of a coriaceous texture, 

 and accompanied by an elliptical, lanceolate, downy bractea. 

 The filaments are six, closely surrounding the germen, shorter 

 than the corolla, diverging, and terminating by quadrangular 

 anthers. The germens are three in each, hermaphrodite, flower 

 oblong, with spreading styles, which are terminated by bifid 

 stigmas. The capsules are three, oblong, compressed, two- 

 celled, bursting at the inner edge, and containing many oblong, 

 compressed, imbricated seeds, winged at each end. 



Geographical DisTRiBUTioN.—Native of the mountainous 

 districts of Europe (Auvergne, Vosges, the Jura, and the Alps). 

 It is found in great abundance on the Alps of Switzerland, 



generally 

 lutea. Asia Minor 



X 



V. angustifolium 



Parts used in Medicine, and Mode or Preparation. 



The Root, collected at the beginning of June, reduced 

 to powder and prepared with alcohol. The rhizome is 

 single, double, or many-headed, having the form of a cylinder, 

 or more frequently of a truncated cone ; it is from two to 

 four inches long, and about one inch in diameter, rough, 

 wrinkled, greyish or blackish-brown externally, whitish inter- 

 nally. Portions of the root-fibres are usually attached to it, as 

 well as some soft, fine, hair-like fibres. At the upper extremity 

 of the rhizome we frequently observe the cut edges of numerous 

 concentric, woody, or membranous scales, they are portions of 

 the dried leaf-sheaths ; when cut transversely the rhizome pre- 

 sents a large central portion (frequently called medulla), which 



