248 .NATURAL 



tlfjfe 



Kria ; 4, EpidendretB, Epidendrum, Bletia ; 5, Malaxidea5 t 

 Liparis, Mycrostylis, Calypso ; 6, Cypripcdioe, Cypripedi- 

 u m. Prop. Singular ; highly beautiful, and often highly 

 fragrant flowers; but generally of little known utility. 

 One species of Orchis, however, affords the SALEP of the 

 shops. 



126. MARANTACE^E. The Arrow-root tribe. Ex. Thalia, 

 Maranta, Canna. Prop. Highly valuable roots, on account 

 of yielding the fecula called arrow-root, an article universally 

 known as food for the sick. 



127. JUNCE^E. The Rush tribe. Ex. Juncus, Luzula, 

 Narthecium. Prop. Used chiefly for the bottoms of chairs, 

 and other mechanical purposes. 



128. MELANTHAOE.E. The Colchicum tribe. Ex. Veratrum, 

 Melanthium, Nolina, Tofeldia. Prop. This is a deleterious 

 order, all the species being more or less poisonous. The root 

 of the Colchicum is a drastic emetic, and cathartic ; and tliat 

 of the Veratrum, even in small doses is highly exciting ana 

 irritative. 



129. POXTEDERLE. The Pickerel-weed tribe. Ex. Ponte- 

 r'.eria, Henteranthera. Prop. Showy flowers, of no use. 



130. ASPHODELE^E. The Asphodel tribe. Ex. Scilla, Al- 

 lium, Asparagus, Aletris, Anthericum. Prop. These are 

 various. The Onion tribe are strong scented esculents ; 

 Scilla or Squill is expectorant ; Aletris is bitter and tonic. 

 The Aloe, which belongs here, is strongly cathartic. They 

 all, however, agree in containing a stimulant, or acrid princi- 

 ple, more or less concentrated. 



131. SMILACE^D. The Smilax tribe. Ex. Smilax, Conval- 

 laria, Medeola, Trillium, Uvularia, Streptopus. Prop. The 

 fleshy root of Medeola is eaten as a sallad. Smilax is emol- 

 lient. The root of the Trillium is emetic. 



132. LILIUM. The Lily tribe. Ex. Lilium, Fritillaria, 

 Yucca, Erythronium. Prop. Remarkable for their beau- 

 tiful flowers. In Kamtschatka, one kind of Lily root is 

 eaten. 



133. AROIDE^. The Arum tribe. Ex. Arum, Acorus, Oron- 

 tium, Caladium, Symplocarpus, Calla. Prop. Little known. 

 The root of Acorus (calamus is carminative, and aromatic. 

 The pollen of Typha is inflammable. 



134. FLUVIALES. Ex. Zostera, Caulinia, Ruppia, Potanio- 

 geton. Prop. Unimportant. 



135. PisTiACEjE. The Duckweed tribe. Ex. Lemna 

 Pistia. Prop. Of no importance. 



