224 LOGAlSriACE^. 



oblong, entire or bluntly denticulate, smooth. Flowers racemose on a 

 naked scape 1 foot high, white or reddish, appearing in May or June. 



Habitat. — In bogs from New England to Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and 

 northward. 



Farts Used. — The rhizome and leaves — not official. 



Constituents. — A bitter principle, termed menyanthin, appears to be 

 the only active constituent. 



Preparations. — Infusion, decoction, and alcoholic tincture. 



Medical Projyerties and Uses. — Buckbean possesses the bitter tonic 

 properties common to the gentianacese, and also has some cathartic power, 

 hence it may be used in cases requiring a tonic and laxative effect. 



LOCANIACE/E. 



Character of the Order. — Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with opposite, entire, 

 stipulate leaves. Calyx 4- to 5-parted. Corolla 4- to 5-cleft or parted, con- 

 volute, valvate, or imbricate in the bud. Stamens 4 to 5, not always of 

 the same number as the lobes of the corolla. Ovary free from calyx. Fruit 

 a capsule or berry. 



An order of plants inhabiting the troj)ics chiefly, generally possessing 

 active poisonous properties. Strychnos, Gelsemium and Spigelia are well- 

 known examx)les. 



GELSEMIUM.— Yellow Jessamine. 



Gelsemium sempervirens Aiton. — Yelloiu Jessamine. 



Description. — Calyx small, 5-parted, the lobes lanceolate, acute. Corolla 

 funnel-form, f to 1^ inch long, the margin 5-lobed, the lobes imbricated 

 in the bud. Stamens 5, half as long as the corolla, upon which they are 

 inserted; anthers oblong, sagittate. Style longer than the stamens; stig- 

 mas 2, each 2-parted. Pod elliptical, flattened contrary to the partition,. 

 2-celled, 2-valved, many-seeded. 



A smooth, twining, shrubby perennial. Leaves opposite, entire, ovate 

 or lanceolate, petiolate, smooth and shining, nearly evergreen. Flowers 

 showy and fragrant, in short axillary ckisters ; j)edicels with scaly bracts. 

 The flowers appear in March and April. 



Habitat. — In low grounds fi'om Virginia to Florida ; often cultivated for 

 ornament. 



Parts Used. — The rhizome and rootlets — United States Pharmacopoeia. 



Constituents. — In addition to common vegetable principles, there exist 

 in gelsemium a peculiar alkaloid, gelseminia and gelseminic acid, the latter 

 being identical with oesculin, a principle found in the horse-chestnut. 



Pi^eparations. — Extractum gelsemii fluidum — fluid extract of gelsemium ;, 

 tinctura gelsemii — tincture of gelsemium. — United States Pharmacopceia. 



