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^36 



BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



spring and early summer. The rhizome is upright, and is the 

 part used in medicine (p. 492). The plant including the rhizome 

 closely resembles the Veratrmn album of Europe. 



Fig. 129. Plants of Veratrum viride growing in the Royal Botanic Society's Gardens 

 (London) and showing the parallel veined (or nerved) leaves with entire margin, and the 

 large terminal panicles of flowers. After Perredes. 



Colchiciini aiifinniialc. This is the autumnal-flowering colchi- 

 cum, a perennial herb but a few inches high which arises from a 

 corm and bears proportionately large lilac-colored flowers. The 

 fruit consists of three follicles containing numerous seeds. The 

 corm (p. 509) and seeds (p. 426) of this and other species of 

 Colchicum are the parts used in medicine. 



