CIMICIFUGA l6l 



130. STELLARIA. CHICKWEED. The herb of Stella'ria me'dia Smith. Demul- 

 cent and emollient; a poultice is used in ophthalmia, bruises, inflammation, etc. 



PORTULACRE. Purslane Family 



131. PORTULACA. GARDEN PURSLANE. The herb of Portula'ca olera'cea 

 Linnet Refrigerant and mild efficient diuretic in ascites; it has a beneficial 

 action in catarrhal affections of the genito-urinary tract. Dose: I to 3 dr. 

 (4 to 12 Gm.). 



NYMPILEJE. Water Lily Family 



Aquatic plants, with peltate or cordate leaves from a prostrate rhizome. 



132. NYMPEUEA. WATER LILY. The rhizome of Nymphae'a odora'ta Aiton. 

 Habitat: United States, in ponds. About 500 mm. (20 in.) long and 50 

 mm. (2 in.) thick, usually broken up into grayish, spongy segments, con- 

 sisting mainly of parenchyma, with a few scattered wood-bundles. In- 

 odorous; taste mucilaginous and astringent. Used as a demulcent and 

 astringent. Dose: 15 to 30 gr. (i to 2 Gm.). 



The rhizome of Nu'pahr ad'vena Nuttall, Yellow Pond Lily, has similar 

 properties and uses. 



RANUNCULACE^. Crowfoot Family 



Herbaceous or somewhat shrubby plants with acrid juice; distinguished by the 

 parts of the flower sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils being free and distinct 

 that is, separated and independently situated on the receptacle. The leaves are 

 dilated at base, one-half clasping the stem. Fruit a pointed or feathery akene, 

 dry pod, or berry. The order has numerous anomalies in the form and structure 

 of the calyx, and corolla in such genera as columbine, aconite, larkspur, ranunculus, 

 anemone, etc., which, nevertheless, agree in the separation of their sepals and petals, 

 the insertion of their numerous stamens, direction of their anthers, structure of 

 seed, etc. 



Synopsis of Drugs from the Ranunculacea* 



A. Rhizomes. B. Herbs. D. Tuber. 



CIMICIFUGA, 133. *Pulsatilla, 140. ACONITUM, 146. 



HYDRASTIS, 134. *Adonis Vernalis, 141. E. Leaf. 



Actaea, 135. Ranunculus, 142. Hepatica, 147. 



*Coptis, 136. C. Seeds. P. Root. 



Helleborus Niger, 137. STAPHISAGRIA, 143. Pseonia, 148. 

 Helleborus Viridis, 138. *Delphinium, 144. 

 Xanthorrhiza, 139. Nigella, 145. 



133. CIMICIFUGA. CIMICIFUGA 



BLACK SNAKEROOT. BLACK COHOSH 



The dry rhizome and roots of Cimicif'uga racemosa Nuttall. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. Stem 4 to 8 feet high, from a thick rhizome; 

 leaves alternate, ternately decompound ; flowers regular, small, white, in wand- 

 like racemes often 3 feet long; sepals 5, petaloid; petals from i to 8, small, 

 on claws, 2-horned at apex; stamens numerous; pistils I to 3; fruit I to several 

 dry, dehiscent pods. 

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