132 



ENDOGENJE. 



DICTYOGEN.S. 

 DIOSCORACE^;. 



536. DIOSCOREA VILLOSA, L. (Colic Root, Wild Yam.) 



a. Root. 



Note. This root is said to be a specific for bilious colic. It is also 

 used as an antispasmodic in irritable states of the muscular tissue be- 

 neath mucous membrane. See King's Dispens., p. 335. It is not 

 official in the U. S. Pharmacopoeia. 



537. DIOSCOEEA TRiPHTLLA, L. ' (BucJc Yam.) 



a. Starch. 



Note. The root yields about 16 per cent, of starch. The word " buck " 

 has no reference to the animal of that name ; it refers to its use by 

 the native Indians, who are called Bucks by the settlers. 



538. DIOSCOREA SATIVA, L. (Common Yam.) 



a. Root, preserved wet. 



Note. The root yields about 24 per cent, of starch. Yams are roasted 

 or boiled and used like potatoes, in the West and East Indies. See Per. 

 Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 269. 



539. TAMUS COMMUNIS, L. (Black Bryony.) 



a. Root, preserved wet. 



Note. This plant must not be confounded with white bryony, which 

 belongs to the Cucurbitaceae. White bryony has rough palmate leaves, 

 and greenish white flowers. Black bryony has glossy, smooth, heart- 

 shaped leaves, and minute green flowers. The fresh root, which is very 

 large, is used for black eyes and bruises. It is used in the form of pulp, 

 made by scraping the root. It is apt to cause irritation if allowed to 

 get into the eyes. See Treas. Bot. , p. 1122. 



SMILACE^E. 



540. RlPOGONUM PARVIFLORUM, B. Br. 



a. Root. 



Note. The root of this plant is used in New Zealand as a substitute 

 for sarsaparilla. Bentley, Man. Bot., p. 648. 



541. SMILAX ASPERA, L. (Italian Sarsaparilla.) 



a. Root, collected at Nismes, in 1849. 



b. Ditto, incised. 



c. Flowers and fruit, preserved wet. 



Note. Specimens a and c were presented by Mr. D. Hanbury. 



