POLYGONATUM SOLOMON'S SEAL. 275* 



linear, spreading, white, withering-persistent sepals. Stamens longer than 

 the sepals ; anthers yellow. Pistillate flowers with rudimentary stamens ; 

 styles 3, revolute. Pod ovoid-oblong, membranaceous, 3-valved, many- 

 seeded. 



An herbaceous perennial. Stem simple, wand-like, 1J to 2 feet high, 

 from a short, thick rootstock with numerous fibrous rootlets. Leaves flat, 

 lanceolate, the lowest spatulate, tapering into a petiole. Flowers in a ter- 

 minal spicate raceme, 4 to 9 inches long, appearing in June. 



Habitat. In low grounds from New England to Illinois and southward. 



Parts Used. The rhizome and rootlets not official. 



Constituents. A bitter neutral principle, termed chamcelirin, and com- 

 mon vegetable constituents. 



Preparations. Commonly used in infusion or tincture. An impure 

 resinous substance, termed helonin, is considerably employed by eclectics. 

 It is prepared by precipitation from the alcoholic tincture. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Blazing-star is said to be tonic and an- 

 thelmintic ; it is probably little more than a simple bitter. 



CON V ALL ARIA. LILY OF THE VALLEY. 



Convallaria majalis Linne. Lily of the Valley. 



Description. Perianth bell-shaped, 6-lobecl, white, deciduous. Stamens 

 6, shorter than the perianth and inserted on its base. Ovary 3-celled ; 

 style simple, stout ; stigma triangular. Fruit a red, few-seeded berry. 



A low, stemless perennial, with slender, running rootstocks, and fibrous 

 rootlets. Leaves two, oblong, their long petioles rolled one within the 

 other. Scape somewhat angular, having a one-sided raceme of beautiful, 

 fragrant flowers, which appear in May. 



Habitat. On high mountains from Virginia southward ; specifically 

 identical with the common flower of gardens of the same name which was 

 introduced from Europe. 



Parts Used. The rhizome and rootlets not official. 



Constituents. Two giucosides, termed convallarin and convaUamarin t 

 besides the common constituents of plants. 



Preparations. It is commonly employed in the form of fluid extract. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Convallaria has been recently reintro- 

 cluced as a remedy, and is being considerably experimented with as a 

 cardiac tonic. In action it somewhat resembles digitalis. Its sphere of 

 usefulness is not, as yet, accurately defined.. 



POLYGONATUM. SOLOMON'S SEAL. 



Character of the Genus. Perianth cylindrical, 6-lobed at the margin. 

 Stamens 6, inserted about the middle of the tube of the perianth, included. 

 Ovary 3-celled, each cell 2- to 6-ovuled ; style slender, jointed ; stigma ob- 

 3-lobed. Fruit a globular, black or blue, 3- to 6-seeded berry. 



