150 UMBELLIFER^. 



of little use in determining the genera, which must be studied by the 

 fruits, leaves, etc. 



The order is represented in North America by fortj^-five genera com- 

 prising one hundred and sixty-eight species, few of which are of medicinal 

 importance. 



SANICUL A. — Sanicle. 



Sanicula Marilandica Liune. — Sanicle, Black Snakeroot. 



DescrijMon. — Calyx-teeth persistent. Petals obovate, erect, connivent, 

 with a long inflexed point, greenish or yellowish. Styles elongated and 

 conspicuous, recmwed. Fruit globular, the carpels not separating at ma- 

 turity, without ribs, thickly set Avith hooked prickles, and having each 5 

 oil-tubes. 



A perennial herb, 2 to 3 feet high. Leaves digitately 5- to 7-parted, the 

 segments incisely and mucronately serrate, the radical ones loug-petioled. 

 Umbels irregular or compound, the flowers capitate in the uml:)ellets, most 

 of them perfect but with many staminate ones intermingled, the latter on 

 slender pedicels. Fruits several in each umbellet. 



Habitat. — Woods and copses, Canada to Carolina and westward ; every- 

 where common, 



I^art Used. — The root — not official. 



Constituents. — Unknown. 



Preparations. — It is administered in powder or decoction. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Perhaps it would be well to state that 

 the medical properties of sanicle, if it have any, are, like its constituents, 

 unknown, though various and contradictory properties have been ascribed 

 to it ; as, for instance, that it is nervine, anodyne, and astringent, and that 

 it has been used with advantage in intermittent fever, sore throat, cynanche 

 trachealis, erysipelas, some skin diseases, chorea, gonorrhoea, dysentery, 

 passive hemorrhages, and leucorx'hcea. Until further evidence be adduced 

 in its favor, one may reasonably remain skeptical regarding its vii'tues, 



ERYNGIUM. — Eryngo. 



Eryngium yuccaefolium Michaux. — Rattlesnake's Master, Bidton 

 Snakeroot. 



Description. — Calyx-teeth persistent. Petals connivent, oblong-obovate, 

 emarginate, with a very long inflexed point. Styles filiform. Carpels 

 semi-terete without ribs or oil-tubes. 



A perennial herb, 1 to 6 feet high. Leaves broadly linear, with 

 straight, simple parallel veins, remotely ciliate with soft spines. Flowers 

 sessile, in dense globose or cylindrical heads, appearing in July or August. 



Habitat. — Dry or damp pine barrens or prairies from New Jersey to 

 Wisconsin and southward. 



