80 BERBERIDACE^. 



in several rows on a lateral placenta, with a fleshy lacerate aril on one 

 side. 



An herbaceous perennial, with a thick, somewhat flishy, horizontal, 

 fibrous-rooted rhizome, from which arises a simple 1-flowered scape, and a 

 tuft of long-petioled, bifoliate, or deeply 2-j)arted radical leaves, with ob- 

 long, foliaceous sheaths at their base. Leaves glaucous beneath ; lamina 

 parted into 2 semi-ovate segments, appearing like a pair of leaves (whence 

 the name twin-leaf), each 3 to 4 inches long, nearly 2 inches wide, obscurely 

 toothed or sinuate. Flowers white, about 1 inch in diameter, ajopearing 

 in April or May. The fruit matures in July. 



Habitat. — In rich, shady woods, on limestone soils, fi'om New York to 

 Tennessee. Not very common. 



Parts Used. — The rhizome and rootlets — not official. 



Constituents. — In addition to the common plant constituents, one analyst 

 has discovered in Jeffersonia a bitter principle and an acrid acid analogous 

 to that existing in Polygala Senega, termed polygalic acid, having the acrid 

 and nauseous taste of the root, and capable of producing persistent nausea 

 and vomiting. Another analyst found a small quantity of berberina and a 

 larger proportion of a white alkaloid. 



Preparations. — There are neither official nor commercial preparations 

 of this plant. Its virtues are yielded to boiling water, and it may therefore 

 be administered in decoction or infusion. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Jeffersonia is said to be alterative, anti- 

 sj^asmodic, diuretic, diaphoretic, and expectorant. That it may possibly 

 produce an alterative effect through the tonic influence of its alkaloid ber- 

 berina is not unlikely, but the other effects attributed to it are i:)robably 

 largely due to its mode of administration rather than to its specific proper- 

 ties. Being rather nauseous, large quantities of it in decoction might 

 readily induce antispasmodic, diaphoretic, or expectorant effects. It has 

 been used as a substitute for senega, to which it bears some analogy as 

 shown by analysis, and in chronic rheumatism, secondary s^^philis, nervous 

 affections, etc., chiefly in domestic practice. Eafinesque thought it worthy 

 of investigation. 



PODOPHYLLUM. —May-Apple. 



Podophyllum peltatum Linne. — Ilay-Apj^le, Mandrake. 



Description. — Calyx : sepals 6, unequal, obtuse, imbricate, pale green, 

 caducous, with 3 smaU, fugacious bractlets at their base. Corolla : petals 

 G to 9, obovate, twice the length of the sepals, white. Stamens 12 to 18, 

 twice the number of the petals, hypogynous, with short, slender filaments ; 

 anthers linear-oblong, about the length of the filaments, 2-celled, open- 

 ing longitudinally, and not upward by valves as is the rule with the order. 

 Ovary ovoid, 1-celled, with many ovules ; stigma sessile, large, thick, and 



