202 OROBAXCHACEiE. 



A tree twenty to fifty feet high. Leaves mostly opposite, large, cor- 

 date, pointed, pubescent, at least beneath, long-petioled. Flowers in large, 

 showy, terminal panicles, appearing in summer. 



Habitat. Native of the Southern States, but common in cultivation in 

 New England and New York. 



Parts Used. The bark and seeds not official. 



Constituents. In the bark have been found tannin, an amorphous 

 bitter principle, a bitter, nauseous crystalline body, besides common vege- 

 table constituents. 



Preparations. A decoction. 



Medical l*roperties and Uses. Eegarding the medicinal properties of 

 catalpa, there is little to be said, for little of a definite character is known. 

 It is said to be emetic and vermifuge, and to have been used in bronchitis 

 and asthma with beneficial effect. Porcher states that the honey col- 

 lected from the flowers is somewhat poisonous. 



OROBANCHACE>E. 



Character of the Order. Low, fleshy herbs, parasitic upon the roots of 

 other plants, destitute of green foliage, bearing scales instead of leaves. 

 Calyx 4- to 5-toothed or parted. Corolla monopetalous, tubular, 5-lobed, 

 more or less 2-lipped, withering-persistent. Stamens 4, inserted in pairs 

 upon the tube of the corolla. Ovary free ; style long, curved at the apex ; 

 stigma large. Pod 1-celled, 2-valved. Seeds numerous. 



A small order of unimportant plants. In general they possess bitter 

 and astringent properties. 



EPIPHEGUS. BEECH-DROPS. 



Epiphegus Virgin! an a Barton. Beech-Drops, Cancer-Root. 



Description. Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla of the upper flowers long, 

 tubular, curved, 4-toothed, whitish and purple ; of the lower flowers, 

 short, seldom expanding, but being forced from its base by the growth of 

 the pod. Pod 2-valved at the apex, but with 2 partial partitions in each 

 valve. 



A slender much-branched herb, 6 to 12 inches high, purplish or yel- 

 lowish-brown, with small scattered scales. Flowers racemose or spiked, 

 the upper sterile, the lower fertile, appearing late in summer. 



Habitat. Parasitic upon the roots of beech-trees ; very common. 



Part Used. The entire plant not official. 



Constituents. Unknown. 



Preparations. Administered in decoction or powder. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Beech-drops has a disagreeable bitter 

 and astringent taste, which is much more pronounced in the recent than 

 in the dried specimen. It has been employed both topically and internally 



