LILIAGE2E. 495 



not In tlie least wrinkled, funnel- shaped, Iialf six-cleft; 

 divisions nearly linear. Filaments length of the divisions 

 of the coralla, and inserted into the base. Anthers linear- 

 ohlong, incumbent, half two-cleft, Germ 3-lobed, 3-celled, 

 each containing a single ovule, attached to the axis. Style 

 length of the stamens. Stigma 3-sided, clubbed, entire. 

 Berries 1—3, slightly united; when single, globular, fleshy, 

 orange-coloured, smooth, the size of a pea, one-seeded. Seed 

 globubar. Embryo simple, lodged near the base of the peri- 

 sperm on the outside. {Roxhivgh.) 



Chemical comjmsition, — An alcoholic extract from the fresh 

 roots was mixed with water acidulated with sulphuric acid, 

 and agitated with petroleum ether, ether, then rendered alkaline 

 and reagitated with ether. 



The petroleum ether left on spontaneous evaporation a viscid, 

 slightly greenish-yellow residue, with a ginger-like odour, 

 similar to that of the fresh roots. The extract was partly 

 soluble in absolute alcohol, the solution possessing a pungent 

 ginger-like taste and acid reaction. The portion insoluble in 

 alcohol was white and had the properties of a wax. 



The acid ether extract had a fragrant vanilla-like odour and 

 was yellowish- green. It contained salicylic acid, a yellow 

 neutral bitter resin, a orreenish acid resin, traces of an alkaloid, 

 and a white neutral principle, slightly soluble in cold absolute 

 alcohol : the nature of this principle was not ascertained. The 

 alkaline ether extract contained a crystallizable white alkaloid, 

 affording a slight yellowish-red colour with Frohde's reagent 

 i^ the cold, changing to blue on warming ; and, with nitric 

 ^cid, a faint yellow coloration. We provisionally name this 

 alkaloid Samevierine. 



HERMODACTYLUS, 



yeniacnlar. —^mm]in {Lid. Bazars). 



History, Uses, &C. — The Hermodactylj or "Finger of 

 Hermes/' was unknown to the early Greeks ; it appears to 

 aave been first used medicinally by the Arahs or later Greek 



