682 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Europe, North America, and the northern parts of Asia. Exam- 

 ples of the Genera : — Asagrsea, Veratrum, Uvularia, Colchicum. 

 There are about 130 species. 



Fig. 1049. 



Fig. 1050. 



Fig. 1051. 



Fig. 1052. 



"4% 



Fig. 1049. Flowering plant of the Meadow Saffron (Colchicum. autum- 



nale). Fig. 1050. Diagram of the flower of the same, with six 



divisions to the perianth, arranged in two whorls; six stamens ; and 



a 3-celled ovary. Fig. 1051. Transverse section of the fruit. Fig. 



1052. Vertical section of the seed. 



Projjerties and Uses. — The plants of this Order are almost 

 universally poisonous owing to the presence of powerful alka- 

 loids. In proper doses several are valuable medicines, possess- 

 ing emetic, purgative, diuretic, acrid, and narcotic properties. 



Asagrcea officinalis.— This plant, a native of Mexico, is the source of the 

 officinal Cevadilla, Sabadilla, or Cabadilla of the British Pharmacopoeia. 

 This consists of fruits and seeds. It is priucipalJy employed as a source of 

 the alkaloid Veratria, which is contained in the seeds, Veratria has been 

 iTsed externally as a rubefacient, in rheumatism, gout, and neuralgic 

 affections, and also internally in similar aifections in doses of one twelfth 

 to one sixth of a grain. It is a most powerful poison. CabadiUa seeds 

 have been employed internally as an antheLmintic. They are called lice 

 seeds by the Germans, because when powdered and applied externally, they 

 destroy vermin. 



Colchicum. — C. autumnale, the Colchicum or Meadow Saffron.— Both the 

 seeds and corms of this plant are employed medicinally in gout and rheu- 

 matism. In improper doses they act as narcotico-acrid poisons. They owe 

 their properties to a peculiar alkaloid, called Colchicia. The once celebrated 

 French nostrum for gout, called Eati mklicinale d'Eusson, owed its pro- 

 parties to Colchicum. The flowers and leaves, more especially the latter, 

 arc poisonous to cattle, and hence this plant, which, moreover, occupies 



