EUCALYPTUS TREES, : oa 
Well in their herb as in their root; but so dangerously 
powerful are they that the plants can only be admin- 
istered by the exercise of legitimate medical practice. 
Napellus root, according to Professor Wittstein, con- 
tains three alkaloids: Aconitin, Napellin, and Nar- 
cotin. The foliage contains also a highly acrid, vola- 
tile principle, perhaps chemically not unlike that of 
many other Ranunculacese. Aconitin, one of the 
most potent of any of the medicinal substances in ex- 
istence, can likewise be obtained from the Nepalese 
Aconitum ferox, and probably from several other spe- 
cies of the genus. 
Acorus Calamus, L.— The Sweet Flag. Europe, 
Middle and North Asia, North America. A perennial 
pond or lake plant. The somewhat aromatic root is 
used as a stomachic, and also in the preparation of 
confectionery, in the distillation of gin, and in the 
brewing of some kinds of beer. The flavor of the 
root depends mainly on a peculiar volatile oil. 
Acteea, spicata, L. — The Baneberry. On forest 
mountains, mainly in limestone soilof Europe, North 
Asia, and North America. <A perennial medicinal 
herb. Its virtue depends on peculiar acrid and bitter, 
as well as tonic principles. In North America, this 
species, and likewise A. alba, are also praised as effi- 
cacious antidotes against ophidian poisons. . 
Adesmia balsamica, Bertero.—The Jarilla of Chile. 
A small shrub, remarkable for exuding a fragrant bal- 
sam of some technie value. 
4Eschynomene aspera, L.—The Solah of tropical 
Asia. A large, perennial, erect, or floating swamp 
plant, probably hardy in the warmer tracts of our 
colony. Introduced from the Botanic Garden of Mel- 
