240 EUPHORBIACE^E. 



corymbose racemes at the ends of the last year's branches, unfolding with 

 the leaves in April and May. The twigs and young branches have a 

 smooth yellowish-green bark, while that of the trunk is grayish and 

 deeply furrowed. 



Habitat. From Canada to Florida ; common. 



Parts Used. The bark of the root official name, Sassafras ; the pith 

 of the young branches official name, Sassafras medulla United States 

 Pharmacopoeia. 



Constituents. Of the bark of the root, an aromatic volatile oil and the 

 common constituents of plants. Of the pith, gummy matter, which is- 

 readily imparted to water, forming a limpid mucilage. 



Preparation*. Of the bark of the root : Oleum sassafras oil of sassa- 

 fras. Of the pith : Mucilago sassafras medulla; mucilage of sassafras 

 pith. United States Pharmacopoeia. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Sassafras is an aromatic stimulant. Its 

 chief use is, however, in the form of the oil, as a flavoring agent. Muci- 

 lage of sassafras pith is used as a demulcent in acute febrile and inflam- 

 matory affections. 



LINDERA. SPICE-BUSH. 



Lindera Benzoin Meisner Spice-Bush, Wild Allspice, Fever-Bush. 



Description. Flowers polygamous-dioecious. Calyx 6-parted, spread- 

 ing. Sterile flowers with 9 stamens in 3 rows, the inner row bearing 

 glands at the base ; anthers 2-celled, 2-valved. Fertile flowers with 15 to 

 18 rudimentary stamens ; ovary globular. Fruit a red, obovoid drupe. 



A shrub 6 to 15 feet high. Leaves oblong-obovate, entire, smooth. 

 Flowers yellow, in nearly sessile clusters, each of 4 to 6 flowers, appearing 

 in March or April before the leaves. 



Habitat. In damp woods and copses ; common. 



Parts Used. The bark and fruit not official. 



Constituents. A volatile oil, and common vegetable principles. 



Preparations. The oil possesses all the medicinal virtues of the plant. 

 A decoction of the bark or fruit is most commonly employed. 



Medical Properties. The bark of the spice-bush has a warm spicy taste, 

 and in sufficient doses acts as a vascular stimulant. It has been employed 

 to produce diaphoresis in acute inflammatory and febrile affections. The 

 fruit has been employed as a substitute for allspice, and, medicinally, for 

 the same purposes as the bark. The aroma of the plant is less pleasant 

 than that of sassafras. 



EUPHORBIACE/E. 



Character of the Order. Plants with opposite or alternate, often stipu- 

 late leaves, commonly an acrid milky juice, and monoecious or dioecious, 

 apetalous, sometimes naked flowers. Perianth, when present, lobed, and 



