PODOPHYLLACEvE. II. JEFFERSONIA. HYDROPELTIDEJE. I. CABOMBA. 



121 



1 P. PELTA'TUM (Lin. spec. 722.) FIG. 33. 

 stem erect, 2-leaved, 1 -flowered; 



fruit ovate. 1). . H. Native of 

 North America, in shady, humid 

 woods, from New England to Ca- 

 rolina, near Boston, and along the 

 Delaware, near Philadelphia ; near 

 Montreal ; Lake Huron, &c. Sims, 

 hot. mag. 1819. Bigel. mat. med. 

 2. p. 34. t. 23 Mentz. pug. t. 11. 

 Catesb. carol, p. 24. t. 24. Root 

 horizontal, creeping. Leaves irre- 

 gularly lobed. Flowers white, so- 

 litary, situated between the 2 leaves. 

 Pedicel, after flowering, inflexed. 

 Berry ovate, about the size of a 

 sloe, yellowish, at first nauseous, 

 but when ripe rather acid, but eatable : hence its vernacular 

 name, Wild Lemon. The root is a safe and active cathartic, com- 

 bined with calomel : it contains a resinous matter, a bitter extract, 

 and a little gummy substance. The whole herb is narcotic and 

 poisonous, particularly the leaves. The fruit ripens in May, 

 whence its name May-Apple, given to it by the settlers in North 

 America, (f. 33.) 



The dried root of the May-Apple is brittle, and easily reduced 

 to powder. It has a peculiar and rather unpleasant taste, but 

 without much acrimony. When chewed for some time it mani- 

 fests a strong bitter taste. Both the tincture and decoction are 

 intensely bitter. When water is added to the alcoholic solution, 

 the mixture becomes very gradually turbid, and at length opaque. 

 The powdered root answers all the purposes of jalap, rhubarb, 

 and aloes, and is more safe and mild in its operation. In irritable 

 stomachs it sometimes occasions nausea and vomiting, but this 

 effect is often occasioned by other cathartic medicines. A dose 

 of about 20 grains operates with efficacy. The root is said by 

 some physicians to be a medicine particularly suited for dropsy. 

 It has also had the character, in the southern states of North 

 America, of curing intermittent fevers. It is said that the 

 Shakers at Lebanon, New York, prepare an extract of the Podo- 

 phyllum, which is much esteemed by medical practitioners as a 

 mild cathartic. 



Peltate-leaved Duck's-foot, or May-Apple. Fl. May. Clt. 

 1664. PI. | foot. 



2 P. CALLICA'RPUM (Harm. fl. lud. p. 14. no. 20.) stem 

 forked ; fruit oblong. I/. . H. Native of Louisiana. Stem 

 2-leaved, 1 -flowered, about 5 inches high. Leaves 6-lobed. 

 Flowers nodding, sweet-scented ; petals 6, white. Fruit about 

 the size of a filbert, white or reddish. 



Beautiful-fruited Duck's-foot, or May-Apple. PI. foot. 



Cult. These plants should be planted in a moist, shady situa- 

 tion, in a peat or vegetable soil ; they are easily increased by 

 dividing at the root. 



II. JEFFERSO'NIA. (This genus is dedicated to Mr. Jeffer- 

 son, the celebrated President of the United States.) Bart. act. 

 soc. amer. 3. p. 334. Nutt. gen. amer. 368. D. C. syst. 2. p. 

 34. prod. l.p. 111. 



LYN. SYST. Octandria, Monogynia. Calyx of 4 sepals. Pe- 

 tals 8. Stamens 8, with short filaments. Capsules opening by 

 the whole circumference at the apex. Seeds numerous, furnished 

 at the base with a lacerated arillus. A stemless herb, about 4 

 inches high, allied on the one hand to Podophyllum, and on the 

 other to Sanguinaria. 



1 J. DIPHY'LLA (Pers. ench. p. 418.) 2/. H. Native of 

 Tennessee, in shady, somewhat humid places in valleys, and on 

 the sides of hills and mountains ; also in Virginia, abundantly 



VOL. i. PART ii. 



about Harper's ferry, and Sweet-springs. Sims, hot. mag. 1513. 

 Podophyllum diphyllum, Lin. spec. 723. Jeff, binata, Bart, 

 act. soc. amer. 3. p. 344. icon. Jeff. Bartonis, Mich. fl. bor. 

 amer. 1. p. 237. Leaves profoundly cleft into 2 lobes. Pedun- 

 cle 1 -flowered. Flower white; anthers yellow. Calyx deci- 

 duous, coloured. Seeds shining. 



Two-leaved Jeffersonia. Fl. April, May. Clt. 1792. PI. 

 foot. 



Cult. This pretty little plant thrives best in peat soil, mixed 

 with a little loam and sand, in a shady situation, and may either 

 be increased by seeds or dividing at the root. It will require 

 a little protection in severe weather. 



ORDER IX. HYDROPELTI'DE^ (plants agreeing in many 

 important characters with Hydropeltis,) D. C. syst. 2. p. 36. 

 Cabombeae, Rich. anal. fru. 



Calyx of 3-4-coloured sepals, (f. 34. a.) Petals equal in 

 number to the sepals, and alternating with them. Stamens 

 6-36, (f. 34. b.) disposed in a double or multiple series ; fila- 

 ments capillary ; anthers ovate-triangular, or linear, terminal, 

 (f. 34. 6.) opening by a double chink on the inside. Ovaries 

 2-18, terminated by the style. Stigma obtuse. Carpels 2-1S, 

 baccate or capsular, indehiscent, each containing only 1-2 seeds 

 from abortion ; seeds globose, inverted or pendulous. Albumen 

 rather farinaceous, not truly fleshy. Embryo small, basilar. 

 Small aquatic herbs, floating on the surface of water. Leaves 

 entire, peltate, or multifid. Peduncles axillary, 1 -flowered. 

 Flowers purple or yellow. This order differs from Podophyllacece 

 in the ovaries being numerous, not solitary, as well as in the 

 stigma being seated on a longer style, and in the seeds being defi- 

 nite : it also differs from Nymphiticece in the last respect. No- 

 thing is known of their medicinal qualities. The seeds are diffi- 

 cult to preserve in a living state for any length of time. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



1 CABOMBA. Sepals and petals 3. Stamens 6. Ovaries 2. 

 Seeds 1-2, globose, inverted. 



2 HYDROPE'LTIS. Sepals and petals 3 or 4. Stamens 18-36. 

 Ovaries 6-18. Seed ovate-globose, pendulous within the peri- 

 carp. 



I. CABO'MBA (a name given by Aublet to this plant, but 

 from what derived he does not mention) Aubl. guian. 1. p. 321. 

 t. 124. Rich. ann. mus. 17. p. 230. t. 5. f. 23. D. C. syst. 2. 

 p. S6. prod. 1. p. 112. Juss. gen. 46. Nectris, Schreb. gen. 

 no. 610. Willd. spec. 2. p. 248. Nutt, gen. amer. no. 338. 



LIN. SYST. Hexdndria, Digynia. Calyx of 3 sepals co- 

 loured on the inside. Petals 3. Stamens 6 ; anthers tetragonal. 

 Ovaries 2, terminated by the style. Carpels baccate, 1-2-seeded ; 

 seeds globose, inverted. Herb emulating Ranunculus aqudtilis. 



1 C. AQUA'TICA (Aubl. 1. c.) If. . S. W. Native of Cayenne 

 and Guiana, in ditches and slow running rivulets. Also in Georgia 

 and Carolina, according to Mich. Nectris aquatica, Willd. spec. 2. 

 p. 248. N. peltata, Pursh. fl. amer. sept. 1. p. 239. Herb float- 

 ing in water, immersed leaves opposite, stalked, cut into 5 divi- 

 sions even to the petiole, segments multifid; emersed leaves 

 floating, alternate, on long petioles, peltate-nerved, orbicular, 

 entire. Peduncles long, axillary, solitary, 1 -flowered. Flowers 

 small yellow. Nectris pinnata, Pursh. fl. amer. sept. 1. p. 239. 

 is perhaps only a variety of this plant. 



Aquatic Cabomba. Fl.Jul.Aug. Clt. 1823. PI. fl. 

 R 



