266 PLANT NAMES AND SYNONYMS 



a. 0. Virpniannm (L. ) DC. (L. Virginianum L. ) Eastern U. S, 

 False Gromwell, Virginia False Groruwell, Wild Job's-tears, 

 Necklace- weed, Pearl-plant, Gravel- weed. Root and seeds re- 

 puted diuretic, lithontriptic. 



1443. 0(p6PSIS, Greene. Oonopsis. Coiiipositae. 



From Greek, ^^e^g like", alluding to the involucre. Syn. 

 Aplopappiis, Bigelovia, in part. Perennial herbs with small 

 flower heads. Four known species, central IT. S. 



1444. OPERCULINA, S. Manso. Turpeth root. Convolvulaceae. 



Syn. Convolvulus, Ipomcea, in part. Herbaceous vines. 

 About 10 species, tropical Asia and East Indies. 



a. 0. Turpethum (L.) Peter (I. Turpethum K. Br. (Kew), C. 



Turpethum, L. ). India and East Indian islands. Root, 

 Turpeth-root, Vegetable Turpeth (Turbith), Indian Jalap; Fr. 

 Turbith vegetal (Codex); purgative. 



1445. 0PHI0GL(3SSUM, L. Adder's-tongue. Ophio^-lossaceae. 



From Greek, ^'serpent's tongue", alluding to the fructification. 

 Somewhat fleshy plants with a single sterile frond, the sporan- 

 gia in a spike. About 12 species; 8 in U. S. (Other names 

 are Adder's- spear. Adder's Fern, Adder' s-grass, Edder's-tongue, 

 Serpent' s-tongue, Snake' s-tongue. ) 



1446. OPHIORHIZA, L. (Ophiorrhiza). Rubiaceae. 

 From Greek, ''snake- root". Syn. Mungos, Adans. Peren- 

 nial herbs or shrubs. About 50 species, tropical Asia, Aus- 

 tralia and Fiji Islands. (a) 0. miiiigos L. East Indies. 

 Mungo, Indian Snakeroot, Earth-gall. Root bitter, reputed 

 antidote to snake-poison. 



1447. Op6pANAX, Koch. Opopanax. Umbelliferae. 



Greek name of the exudate, "all-healing juice". Syn. 

 Ferula, Pastinaca, in part. Perennial herbs. About three 

 species, Europe and Asia. 



a. 0. Opopanax (L.) Lyons (P. Opopanax L., O. Chironium 

 Koch, not Guss., F. Opopanax L,, not Spreng.). Southern 

 Europe. Gum-resino-us exudate, Opopanax, Hercules' All-heal; 

 Fr. Opopanax (Codex); Sp. Opoponaso; resembles Ammoniac, 

 See Dorema. 



.1448. OPULASTER, Medic. 1799. Nine-bark, etc. Rosaceae. 



From Greek, "star Opulus", the fruit being star-shaped. 



Syn. Phys ocarpa, Paf. 1836, also Spirsea and Neillia, in 



part. Shrubs with palmately lobed leaves and white flowers in 



corymbs. About 5 species, 1 of Mantchuria; 4 in U. S. 



1449. OPl^NTIA, Mill. Opuntia, Prickly Pear, etc, Cactaceae. 

 Ancient Greek name, from that of a town. Syn. Cactus, in 

 part. Succulent thorny plants with jointed branching stems. 

 About 150 species. New World; 52 in IT. S. 



a. 0. Opuntia (L. ) Coult. (C. Opuntia L., O. vulgaris Mill.). 

 Massachusetts to Florida and Mexico. Eastern Prickly Fear, 

 Prickly-pear Cactus, Indian Fig*, Barbary Fig, Devil' s-tongue, 

 Hedgehog Thistle. Fleshy stems discutient. Fruit edible. 



