N. ORD.-SCROPHULARIACE. 4112 
GENUS.—SCROPHULARIA,* TOURN. 
SEX. SYST.—DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. 
SCROPHULARIA. 
FIG-WORT. 
SYN.—SCROPHULARIA NODOSA, LINN.; SCROPHULARIA MARILAND- 
ICA, LINN.; SCROPHULARIA NODOSA, VAR. AMERICANA, MICHX.,; 
SCROPHULARIA LANCEHOLATA, PURSH. 
COM. NAMES.—FIG-WORT, SCROFPULA-PLANT, HEAL-ALL, HOLMES- 
WEED, SQUARE-STALK, CARPENTER’S SQUARE; (FR.) SCROPHU- 
LAIRE; (GER.) KROPF WURZ, SCROPHELNPFLANZE. 
A TINCTURE OF THE WHOLE FRESH PLANT SCROPHULARIA NODOSA, LINN., 
OR VAR. MARILANDICA, GRAY, OR BOTH. 
Description.—This rank perennial herb grows to a height of from 2 to 4 feet. 
Stem clearly quadrilateral, with slight obtuse ridges at the angles, glabrous through- 
out. Leaves opposite, ranging from oval below to lanceolate above, doubly serrate, 
and cordate or nearly so at the base. inflorescence a primarily nodding terminal 
panicle, of loose, 3 to 6-flowered cymes; flowers small, lurid, brownish- or greenish- 
purple. Cudyx deeply s-cleft into ovate, equal lobes. Corolla globose, contracted 
at the throat, and furnished with a two-lipped border; fetals 5, the upper lip of 
two erect, equal lobes, the lower “ap composed of a lateral equal pair, shorter 
however than those of the upper, and a lower reflexed, spreading lobe, closely 
appressed to the tube. Stamens 4, curled inward with the anthers closely sur- 
rounding the ovary; they become erect when ripening, and finally decline. The 
rudiment of a fifth stamen forms a protuberance at the summit and in the throat 
of the corolla-tube. /i/aments pubescent, broader above than below; anthers 
with two confluent cells, opening transversely at the apex. /ywit a 2-celled, 
ovoid, septicidal, many-seeded pod; seeds black, rough, and dotted with minute 
pits. Read description of the N. Order under Verbascum, IIo. 7 
History and Habitat.—The Fig-wort grows along the borders of woods and 
dry roadsides, from Utah eastward throughout the United States and Canada, 
flowering from June to September. The European Scrophularia nodosa and our 
var. Marilandica seem to differ but slightly in their parts and properties from the 
species under consideration. This herb is said to serve as a soothing poultice to 
inflamed tumors, suppurating mamme, ulcers, burns, hemorrhoids, etc.; itis also 
used alone and as a component of salves, for itch, various eruptions, and “scabs ae 
- ¥ On account of its repute in scrofula, 
