DICTYOGEN^. 667 



opinion most justly so, as an alterative in venereal and skin diseases, in rheu- 

 matism, &c. Upwards of 1 20,000 lbs. are annually used in this country alone. 

 Several kinds of SarsapariUa are knoA\Ti, of which the most esteemed is 

 that called Jamaica Sarsaparilla, although it is not the produce of that 

 island, but of Central America. It is obtained from S. oJicinaUs. This kind 

 is alone officinal in the British Pharmacopoeia. Other kinds of Sarsaparilla 

 distinguished in commerce, are Lima, probably from S. officinalis ; Lean 

 Vera Cruz, from S. medica ; Lisbon or BraziUan, from S. papyracea, and 

 probably also from S. officinalis ; Guatemala, from S. papyracea ; Honduras, 

 from, l" beUeve, S. papyracea ; and Caracas or Gouty Vera Cruz, probably 

 from .S. officinalis and <S". syphilitica. Several other species of Smilax are in 

 use in different parts of the world, as .S. aspera in the south of Europe ; its 

 roots iovm Itahan Sarsaparilla. S. glabra, S. lanc^oefolia, S. ovalifoUa, and 

 S. prolifera are employed in India ; S. glycyphylla in Australia, >S. Macahucha 

 in the Philippines, and S. anceps in the Mauritius, &c. S. China is commonly 

 regarded as the somxe of the China root of the materia medica. Several 

 spurious China roots are in use in America : their source is doubtful. 



Natural Order 244. Teilliace^. — The TriUium or Paris 

 Order. — Character. — Unb ranched herbaceous plants, with 

 rhizomes or tuberous root-stocks. Leaves whorled, not articu- 

 lated, net-veined. Flowers large, terminal, solitary, hermaphro- 

 dite. Perianth inferior, with 6 — 8 parts, arranged in 2 rows ; 

 the parts being all alike, or those forming the inner row much 

 larger and coloured. Stamens 6 — 10, with linear apicilar 

 anthers. Ovary superior, 3 — 5-celled, with a corresponding 

 number of styles and stigmas ; 'placentas axile. Fruit succulent, 

 3 — 5-celled. Seeds numerous, albuminous; embryo minute. 



Bistribution, cf'c. — Natives of the temperate parts of Europe, 

 Asia, and America. Examples of the Genera : — Paris, Trillium. 

 There are about 30 species. 



Properties eind Uses. — The plants of this order are reputed to 

 be narcotic, acrid, emetic, or purgative, but none are employed in 

 regular practice. The root of Trillium erectum {pendidtini), 

 under the name of Beth-root, is in use in the United States, and 

 is regarded as astringent, tonic, and antiseptic. 



Natural Order 245. Eoxbueghiace^. — The Eoxburghia 

 Order. — Character. — Twining shrubs, with tuberous roots. 

 Leaves net-veined, leathery, broad. Flowers large and showy, 

 solitary, hermaphrodite. Perianth inferior, with 4 petaloid divi- 

 sions. Stamens 4, hypogynous ; anthers introrse, apicilar. Ovary 

 superior, 1-celled, with a basal placenta; stigma sessile. Fruit 

 2-valved, 1-celled. Seeds numerous, in 2 stalked clusters, 

 anatropous ; embryo in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



Bistribution, cfr. — They are natives of the hotter parts of the 

 East Indies. There is but one genus, Eoxburghia, and 4 

 species. Their properties are unimportant. 



Natural Order 246. Phxlesiace^. — The Philesia Order. — 

 Biagnosis. — The plants of this order are closely allied to the 

 Roxburghiacese, from which, however, they are readily distin- 

 guished by their hexamerous perianth and andrcecium, perigy- 

 nous stamens, parietal placentation, long style, and semi-anatro- 

 pous ovules. 



