224 LOGANIACE^E. 



oblong, entire or bluntly denticulate, smooth. Flowers racemose on a 

 naked scape 1 foot high, white or reddish, appearing in May or June. 



Habitat. In bogs from New England to Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and 



northward. 



Parts Used. The rhizome and leaves not official 



Constituents. A bitter principle, termed menyanthin, appears to be 

 the only active constituent. 



Preparations. Infusion, decoction, and alcoholic tincture. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Buckbean possesses the bitter tonic 

 properties common to the gentianaceae, and also has some cathartic power, 

 hence it may be used in cases requiring a tonic and laxative effect. 



LOCANIACE/E. 



Character of the Order. Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with opposite, entire, 

 stipulate leaves. Calyx 4- to 5-parted. Corolla 4- to 5-cleft or parted, con- 

 volute, valvate, or imbricate in the bud. Stamens 4 to 5, not always of 

 the same number as the lobes of the corolla. Ovary free from calyx. Fruit 

 a capsule or berry. 



An order of plants inhabiting the tropics chiefly, generally possessing 

 active poisonous properties. Strychnos, Gelsemium and Spigelia are well- 

 known examples. 



GELSEMIUM. YELLOW JESSAMINE. 



Gelsemium sempervirens Aiton. Yellow Jessamine. 



Description. Calyx small, 5-parted, the lobes lanceolate, acute. Corolla 

 funnel-form, f to 1 inch long, the margin 5-lobed, the lobes imbricated 

 in the bud. Stamens 5, half as long as the corolla, upon which they are 

 inserted ; anthers oblong, sagittate. Style longer than the stamens ; stig- 

 mas 2, each 2-parted. Pod elliptical, flattened contrary to the partition, 

 2-celled, 2-valved, many-seeded. 



A smooth, twining, shrubby perennial. Leaves opposite, entire, ovate 

 or lanceolate, petiolate, smooth and shining, nearly evergreen. Flowers 

 showy and fragrant, in short axillary clusters ; pedicels with scaly bracts. 

 The flowers appear in March and April. 



Habitat. In low grounds from Virginia to Florida ; often cultivated for 

 ornament. 



Parts Used. The rhizome and rootlets United States Pharmacopoeia. 



Constituents. In addition to common vegetable principles, there exist 

 in gelsemium a peculiar alkaloid, gelseminia and gelseminic acid, the latter 

 being identical with cescidin, a principle found in the horse-chestnut. 



Preparations. Extractum gelsemii fluidum fluid extract of gelsemium ; 

 tinctura gelsemii tincture of gelsemium. United States Pharmacopoeia. 



