58 POLYANDRIA. DI-PENTAGYNIA. 



193. CIMICIFUGA. Nutt. Gen. 474. 

 [Lat. Cimer, a bug, and fugio, to expel; from its supposed virtues ] 



Cal. 4 or 5 leaved. Cor. petals 4. Caps. 1 to 5, oblong, opening along a lateral suture, many seeded 



C. RACEMosA- Ell. Monogynous; leaves decompound; racemes virgateJy paniculate; capsule ovate. 

 Synon. C. serpentaria. Ph. Actea racemosa. IVilld. Muhl. Mr. F«Zgo— Black Snake-root. 

 11. Latter end of June- Fr. mat. Middle of September. 



ifa6. Rich woodlands: common. 4 to 6 feet high: flowers white. 



Ohs. The root is sorne^yllat mucilaginous and astringent; and is a very popular medicine, both for man 

 and beast. It is used, in infusion, or decoction, chiefly as a pectoral medicine: and it is said to have beeC 

 found useful in the disease of cattle, called the murrain. Its virtues, however, are probably over-rated— as 

 is usually the case with popular remedies, from the want of a due degree of discrimination, as lo their, 

 effects, and the diseases in which they are employed. 



194. AQUILEGIA. Nutt. Gen. 473. 



[Lat. Aquila, an Eagle; its nectaries having a fancied resemblance to eagle's claws.] 



Cal- 0. CoR. petals 5. A'iecfaHes 5, corniculate, situate between the petals. Caps. 5> distinct 



A. CANADENSIS. EH. Spurs Straight ; stamens exscrted; leaves biternate, and lernate, glaucous beneath^ 



Viilgo — Wild Columbine. 



Fl. Beginning of May. Fr- mat. Latter end of July. 



Hob- Rocky banks, along Brandywine: frequent. 12 to 13 inches high; flowers red, tinged with yellow. 



195. HYPERICUM. Nutt. Gen. 476. 



[A name of obscure meaning: Boerh. says, " Hypereikon, (Gr.) quasi herba,cujus imago eminet."1 



Cai,. 5 parted, equal. CoR. petals 5. Filam. slightly united at base. Caps, ovate, as many cells as styles. 



Flowers Trigynous. 



H. PERFORATiTM. Ph. Stem ancipital; leaves oblong, pellucid-punctate; petals twice as long as the calyx, 

 F?//go— Saint John's wort. 



Fl' Beginning of June, and after. Fr. mat. Latter end of September- 



Mab. Fields, and pastures; common. 1 to 3 feet high: flowers yellow. 



Obs. This is a foreigner, and a pernicious weed in our pastures: often prod'jcing troublesome scabby sores 

 upon horses and horned cattle, where it comes in contact with them — especially those which are whiter or 

 have white feet and noses. It would seem that the dew which collects on the plant, becomes active in this 

 way. I have seen the backs of white cows covered with sores, wherever the bushy ends of their tails 

 had been applied, after draggling through the St. John's wort. — The tincture of the flowers and upper 

 leaves is said to be useful in some complaints »f the stomach and bowels. See Barton's Med- and Phys. 

 Journal, Vol. 1. part 2. p. 54. 



IJ. coRYMBosuM. Pk. Stem terete, black-punctate; leaves amplexicaul, oblong-oval, obtuse. 



Synon. H. maculatum. Ell. Mx. 



Fl- Beginning of July, and after. Fr- mat. Last of September. 



Jiiab- Woodlands, and fields: Bath, &c. frequent. 1^ to 2 feet high: flowers yellow, smallish. 



H. PARViFi.oRUM. Ell. Stem 4 angled; leaves ovate-oblong, sub-cordate ;petals shorter than the calyx. 



Synon. H. quinquenervium- M.v. H. mutilum? WiUd. 



Fl. Latter end of July, and after. Fr. mat. Beginning of October. 



Hah. Wet, low grounds; along rivulets: Barrens, &c. frequent. 6 to 12 inches high: flowers yellow. 



H. CANABENSE. r/7. Stem 4 angled; leaves linear, tapering at base; flowers solitary; capsules long, conic 



Fl- Middle of August, and after. Fr. mat. Beginning of October. 



JIab. Moist, gravelly places: Thomas Hoopcs's: frequent. 9 to 18 high: flowers yellow, capsules red. 



19G. LTRIODENDRON. Nutt. Gen. 480. 

 [Gr. Lc'irion, a lily, and Dendron, a tree; the flowers resembling the lily, in form. 3 



Cal. 3 leaved. CoR- petals mostly 0". 5'fi!7??arfc sublanceolate, 1 or 2 seeded, imbricated in a cejis 



