CAPRIFOLIACEAE HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY 745 



baskets. The Linnaea borealis. or twin-flower is native in the cool damp woods 

 of the North. 



Several of the viburnums are cultivated. The hobblebush (V. alnifolium") , 

 a native from Ontario and southward, is frequently cultivated in the East. 

 The cranberry-tree or guelder rose (V. Opulus) found along streams from 

 New Brunswick to northeastern Iowa, is cultivated both in its native and cul- 

 tivated forms. The well-known snowball is a cultivated form of the cran- 

 berry tree. The fruit of this plant is used in the North. The root of horse 

 gentian (Triosteum perfoliatum) has a bitter taste and is used as a cathartic. 

 The flowers of the elder berry (Sambucus canadensis) are sudorific. The bark 

 of Viburnum pruni folium, the black haw, is officinal, an antispasmodic, nervine 

 and an astringent. It is also used as an uterine sedative, contains viburnin, 

 oxalic acid, tannic add, etc. The bark of V. Opulus is said to be antispasmodic. 

 Xylostein occurs in Lonicera Xylosteum. According to Greshoff the leaf of 

 Viburnum macrophyllum and of Symphoricarpos mollis contain saponin. 



Genera of Caprifoliaceae 



Flowers in compound cymes ; corolla rotate Sambucus 



Flowers not in cymes, tubular to campanulate. 



Erect perennial herbs Triosteum. 



Shrubs Symphoricarpos. 



Triosteum L. Horse Gentian. Feverwort 



Coarse hairy perennial herbs with simple stems ; leaves connate perfoliate 

 or sessile; flowers axillary perfect sessile; calyx tube ovoid with a S-lobed limb, 

 persistent ; corolla tubular, gibbous at the base, 5-lobed ; stamens 5, anthers 

 linear; ovary 3-5 celled; ovule 1 in each cavity; style filiform; fruit a dry drupe 

 orange or red, enclosing 2-3 or rarely more 1 seeded nutlets, embryo minute. 



Triosteum perfoliatum L. Feverwort. Wild Coffee 

 A soft hairy perennial 2-4 feet high; leaves oval, abruptly narrowed below, 



downy beneath; flowers brownish purple, clustered; corolla purplish; fruit 



orange in color. 



Distribution. In rich woods New York to Minnesota, Kansas and Alabama. 



Poisonous properties. Some species of the genus were used by the Indians 



j as a cure of fevers and early practitioners in this country used the root as an 



emetic. In early days, the berries of this plant were used as a substitute for 



coffee. The physiological action of the plant is to produce vomiting. It has 



a bitter nauseous taste. 



Sambucus (Tourn.) L. Elder 



Shrubs, trees or occasionally herbs ; leaves opposite, pinnate ; flowers small 

 in compound cymes; calyx-lobes minute or obsolete; corolla rotate or somewhat 

 campanulate, regular with a 5-cleft wing; stamens 5, inserted at the base of 

 the corolla ; stigmas 3 ; ovary 3-5-celled ; ovules 1 in each cavity ; fruit a berry- 

 like drupe with 3-5 1-seeded nutlets; endosperm fleshy. 



About 20 species of wide distribution. 



Sambucus canadensis L. Common Elder 



A shrub from 5-10 feet high, wood with large lenticels and large pith; 

 leaflets 5-11 ovate or oval acuminate or acute, short stalked, smooth above, 

 sharply serrate ; flowers white. 



