7. A. pratensis Linn. sp. pi. 760. Fl.dan. t. 611. Woodv. 

 med. bot. t. 148. D C. prodr. i. 17. Pulsatilla nigricans 

 Storck lib. de pulsat. Open fields and plains in dry places in 

 many parts of Europe, Russia, and Turkey in Asia ; flowering 

 early in the spring. 



Leaves pinnated ; segments many-parted, with linear lobes. Flower 

 pendulous. Sepals 6, erect, reflexed at the point. It differs from 

 A. pulsatilla according to De Candolle in the flower being smaller and 

 pendulous, not nearly erect, and of a deeper colour ; in the sepals 

 being narrower and more pointed, erect and converging at the base, 

 reflexed at the point. In both species, stalked glands, or sterile sta- 

 mens, are found between the fertile stamens and the sepals. Storck 

 recommends an extract or infusion in chronic ophthalmia, and in old 

 syphilitic disorders. 



8 A. cernua Thunb.fl.jap. 238. DC. prodr. i. 16. Siebold 



fl. jap. i. 14. t. 4 Exposed parts of the Mountains of Japan. 



(Hak-too-woo of the Chinese.) 



Leaves pinnated ; the lower segments on long stalks, all pinnatifid, 

 with cut linear-oblong acute segments ; the younger silky on each side, 

 the old ones villous only on the under side. Involucre multifid. Flower 

 nodding. Sepals bright brownish red, downy on the outside, erect, 

 oval, acute. Root in great reputation among the Japanese and Chi- 

 nese, as a bitter medicine. 



According to Christison 9. A. hortensis, and 10. A. coro- 

 naria, are also among the most active of the poisonous species : 

 1 1. A. nemorosa less active ; and 12. A. kepatica, and 13. A. alpes- 

 tris bland. 



HYDRASTIS. 



Sepals 3, ovate. Petals 0. Stamens and ovaries numerous. 

 Drupes, capitate, terminated by a style, 1-celled, 1-2-eeeded. 

 Seeds obovate, polished. 



14. H. canadensis Linn. sp. pi. 784. DC. prodr. i. 23. 

 Hooker in Sot. mag. t. 3019. Bart. mat. med. ii. t. 26. 

 Warnera canadensis Mill. ic. t. 285. Shady woods in rich 

 soil in the United States and Canada. (Yellow root.) 



Rhizoma tortuous, knotty, creeping, of an intensely yellow colour, 

 affording a dye of the same tint, bitter, somewhat pungent and tonic. 

 Stem erect, herbaceous, rounded, about a foot high, simple, hairy up- 

 wards, bearing two leaves of which, the lower is petioled, the other 

 sessile. Leaves palmate, with 3 or 5 deep inciso-serrated segments, 

 hairy, dark green. Peduncle solitary, terminal, about 2 inches long, 

 single-flowered. Flowers small. Calyx of 3 deciduous, broadly-ovate, 

 pale greenish-white, concave, slightly-downy sepals. Stamens many 

 longer than the pistils. Filaments flat, linear-lanceolate, having the 

 cells of the anther on their edge at the apex. Pistils several; ovary oval, 

 glabrous, attenuated upwards into a short style. Stigma obtuse,^ 

 scarcely lobed. The fruit resembles a raspberry, is red, and consists of 

 many little 2-seeded drupes collected into a globose head, and each 

 crowned with the persistent style. Rhizoma has a strong narcotic 

 3 B 2 



