ANEMONE WIND-FLOWEK. 59 



Parts Used. The fresh leaves, flowers, and stem not official. 



Constituents. The above-described species of clematis, as well as many 

 others, both indigenous and foreign, possess an acrid principle whose ex- 

 act nature is as yet undetermined. It is of a volatile character, however, 

 and is dissipated by heat, and in the process of drying the plants. 



Preparations. Alcohol is a solvent for the active principle of clematis, 

 and an alcoholic tincture of the fresh plant the best preparation. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Clematis appears to be little more than 

 an acrid irritant. Applied externally, the leaves of some species strongly 

 irritate and even vesicate the skin. Administered internally, in small 

 doses, it may produce diuresis and diaphoresis ; in large doses, active 

 purgation. It has been employed in syphilis, scrofula, chronic rheuma- 

 tism, etc., but without ever attaining an established reputation. It is used 

 at present almost exclusively by homoeopathic practitioners. 



ANEMONE. WIND-FLOWER. 



Character of the Genus. Calyx : sepals many, distinct, petaloid. Corolla 

 none, or with petals resembling abortive stamens. Stamens numerous, 

 distinct. Ovaries numerous, distinct. Achenia pointed or tailed, flat- 

 tened, not ribbed. 



Perennial herbs, with radical leaves, those of the stem two or three 

 together, forming an involucre some distance below the flower. 



Anemone patens Linne, var. Nuttal liana Gray. Pasque-Flower. 



Description. Calyx : sepals 6, purplish or white, 1 inch long, spread- 

 ing. Stem simple, erect, naked except the involucre, bearing a single ter- 

 minal flower which develops in advance of the leaves. Leaves ternately 

 divided, the lateral divisions 2-parted, the middle one stalked, 3-parted, 

 the segments deeply once or twice cleft into narrowly linear and acute 

 lobes. Lobes of the involucre like those of the leaves, united at the base 

 into a shallow cup. The entire plant is villous with long silky hairs. It 

 blooms in March and April. 



Habitat. In prairie regions from Illinois westward and northward. 



Part Used. The herb United States Pharmacopoeia. The official name, 

 Palsatilla, includes the herb not only of this plant but of A. pulsatilla and 

 A. pratensis also. 



Constituents. All parts of the fresh plant are extremely acrid ; applied 

 to the skin it causes irritation and even vesication. This acrid property 

 is diminished or wholly lost by drying and long keeping ; hence to be effi- 

 cacious it should be used as fresh as possible, or at least preparations made 

 from the recent plant should be employed. The acridity of pulsatilla is 

 due to the presence of anemonin, a crystalline substance which is exceed- 

 ingly liable to change and is destroyed by heat. 



Preparations. None are official. An alcoholic tincture of the fresh 

 plant is reliable. 



