210 ORDER II. — MAG NOLI ACE^. 



Genus XVL— ZAXTHORHI'ZA. Mar. 5—12. {Yellow-root.) 

 (From the Greek xanthos, yellow, and ridza, a root) 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, on pedicels. Stamens 5 — 10. Ovaries 

 5 — 10, with 2 — 3 ovules. Follicles small, mostly 1-seeded, 

 seed suspended. 



1. Z. apiifo'lia, (L'Her.) A shrub. Root large, yellow, aud bitter. 

 Stern ^imple, smooth, and glabrous. Leaves t liter uate, crowded at the 

 sum;nit of the stem, leaflets incised, under surface pubescent, petioies 

 6 — 8 inches long. Flowers in racemes, axillary and compound, minute, 

 often polygynous. — Dark purple. "^ . Ap. Upper districts of Car. 

 and Geo. 2—3 feet. 



The root of this plant is exceedingly bitter, and is used as a tonic. It is also usfed 

 in Coloring yellow. It possesses decided properties, and we doubt not might be ap- 

 plied to useful purposes. 



Genus XVII.— HYDRASTIS. L. 12—12. 

 (From the Greek hudor, water, in allusion to its habit.) 



Leaves of the perianth 3, ovate, petaloid. Stamens and 

 ovaries numerous. Carpels berry -like, in a globose head ; 1, 

 and rarely 2-seeded. 



1. H. CANADEx'sis, (L.) Root yellow and bitter. Stem simple, 2- 

 leaved. Leaves altern;ite, cordate, palmate, acutely serrate; lower 

 leaf petioled, upper subsessile, glabrous. Flowern solitary, terminal. — 

 Rose-color. If. Mountain-^. April — May. 6 — 8 int-hes. 



Yellow Root. Orange Root. Turmeric Root. 



Order IL— MAGXOLIA'CE^. Juss. {Magnolia Family) 



Sepals 3 — 6, deciduous. Petals 3 — 30, hypogynous, in sev 

 eral rows ; aestivation imbricate. Stamens numerous, hypogy- 

 nous ; anthers adnate, introrse, bursting by a longitudinal slit ; 

 filaments short. Carpels few in a single row, or numerous in 

 several rows. Seeds anatropous, suspended, or ascending. Em- 

 hryo minute ; albumen fleshy. Leaves alternate, entire, coria- 

 ceous, with caducous stipules. Flowers generally large, and 

 fragrant. Trees and shrubs. 



Genus L— MAGXO'LIA. L. 12—12. 

 (In honor of Magnol, a French botanist.) 



Sepals 3, caducou.s, sometimes wanting. Petals G — 12, ca- 

 ducous. Carpels 2-va!ved, 1-seeded, imhi-icate in their^arrange- 

 ment, forming an ovate strobile-like I'ruit. Seeds suspended. 

 Trees. 



1. M. grandiflo'ra, (L.) Leaves evergreen, oval, lanceolate, coria- 

 ceous, ferruginous underneath, — 8 inches long, branches somewhat 

 whorled. Petals 9 — 12, obovate, abruptly unguiculate. Stamens nu 



