NAT. ORDER 



Papaveracea. 



SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS. BLOOD-ROOT. 



Class XIIT. PoLYANDRIA. OldcV I. MONOGVNIA. 



Glu. Cliuv. Sepals, two, ovate, caduous. Petals, three to twelve. 



Staincii'^, twciity-lbur. Sligmas, bisulcate. Capsules, oblong, 



two-valveil. 

 Spc. Char. Leaf, radical, kidney-sliaped, lobed. Fhicers, double or 



single, large or small. 



This is a small perennial American herb, aboxmding in a blood- 

 colored juice, with one leaf and one scape rising from each bud. 

 Professor Barton describes the Blood-root as a highly valuable herb, 

 and from whom we quote the following: ''The root ui Paccoon is 

 perennial, and of no definite size. It varies in thickness, from a 

 c|uarter to a half, or sometimes three-quarters of an inch in diameter ; 

 and in length from two to four inches. It is generally about the size 

 and length of a finLrer; flesliv. round, and abruptly terminated; 

 being for the most part tolerably straight in the middle, with a cur- 

 vature at each end. It is conunonly of the shape represented in the 

 plate, though not unfrequently, particularly in the new plant, shorter, 

 and contorted or bent upwards. Occasionally a number of roots are 

 coimccted together, principally by no closer attaclurient tlian that 

 produced by a fasciculation ot the numerous fd>res originating from 

 the main body. The external color of the root is brownish, 

 inclining to copper; but being cut, it appears of a red hue; and a 

 bright orange-colored juice is abundantly discharged ; the end always 

 has the appearance of having lieen cut off by a dull instrument, or 



Vol. iii— l-2t. 



