854 XXXIX. SMILACE.E. 



obscure, aa much from the spurious drugs which usurped its name, as from the error of botanists. Lin- 

 naeus attributed it to the Iris tuberosa, but the researches of modern pharmacists, and especially Guibourt 

 and Planchon, have shown that Hcrmodacte is the produce of Colchicum variet/atum, a native of the 

 Mediterranean region. 



In North America the root of Helonias dioica is used as a vermifuge ; steeped in wine it is a bitter 

 tonic : a decoction of the root of //. btdlata is administered there for obstructions of the abdominal 

 viscera. The seeds of Anrianthiuin nuiscectu.i-icuin are narcotic, and used to destroy flies. The bulb of 

 Ledcbouria hyacinthioides replaces in India that of Scilla. Uvttlaria is distinguished from the other 

 Melunthacea by its medicinal properties as well as by its botanical characters, which place it near 

 Streptopus, belonging to Aaparagvat. The roots of U. latifulia and flava are, in fact, mucilaginous and 

 slightly astringent; the Anglo-American doctors prescribe it in an infusion for gargling. A decoction of 

 the leaves and root of U. yrundiflora is considered by the natives of North America a euro for the bite 

 of the rattle-snake. 



XXXIX. SMILACE^E. 



+ 



(ASPAEAGOEUM genera, Jussieu. SMILACE^E, Br. LILIACEAEUM pars, SMILACE^ ET 



PHILESIACE^E, Lindl.) 



FLOWEES usually g . PEEIANTH inferior, petaloid, mostly 6-merous, 2-seriate, 

 isostemonous. STAMENS hypogynous or perigynous. OVAEY superior, 3-celled, rarely 

 ]-2-4>-celled; OVULES more or less numerous, anatropous or semi-anatropous or ortho- 

 tropous. BEEEY few-seeded. SEEDS globose ; TESTA membranous ; ALBUMEN very 

 dense. EMBEYO small, included. HERBS or sarmentose UNDEESHBUBS, sometimes 

 with tendrils or thorns. LEAVES all radical, or cauline alternate or whorled. 



Perennials, with a usually creeping rhizome, or herbaceous or sarmentose 

 UNDEESHEUBS ; branches unarmed or thorny. LEAVES all radical, or the cauline 

 alternate or whorled, sessile, sheathing or petioled, sometimes with stipular tendrils 

 (Smilax) ; nerves parallel or 3-5-7-paltnate and anastomosing (Smilax) ; sometimes 

 scale-like, and then accompanied by branches dilated into a phyllode (or cladode) 

 (Ruscus). FLOWEES regular, 5 , or diclinous by arrest, terminal or axillary, solitary 

 (Paris, Trillium), or sub-solitary (Streptopus) ; sometimes racemose (Convallaria, 

 Polygonatum, Smilacina, &c.), or umbellate (Smilax, Medeola)', pedicels often jointed 

 and bracteolate. PEEIANTH petaloid, with 6 leaflets, rarely 4 (Majanthemum), or 

 5-oo (Paris), 2-seriate, all alike, or the inner narrowest or largest (Paris, Trillium); 

 distinct, or forming a tabular or campanulate perianth (Polygonatum, Convallaria); 

 aestivation imbricate. STAMENS equal in number with the perianth leaflets [or oo in 

 Paris'] , inserted on them or on the receptacle ; filaments free, rarely more or less 

 monadelphous (Ruscus, Paris, &c.); anthers introrse, 2-celled, connective apiculate 

 (Trillium, Paris). OVAEY free, sessile, usually 3-celled, sometimes 1-celled with 3-5 

 parietal placentas (Lapageria, Paris, &c.), or 2-celled (Majanthemum); cells inany- 

 ovuled (Paris, Trillium, Medeola, Drymophila, Streptopus); or 1-2-ovuled (Conval- 

 laria, Polygonatum, Smilacina, Smilax, Ruscus, &c.) ; styles as many as the carpels, 

 distinct or coherent ; stigmas distinct, simple ; ovules inserted at the inner angle of 

 the cells, anatropous or semi-anatropous or orthotropous. BEEEY 1-2-3-4-celled, 

 1-few-seeded. SEEDS sub-globose; testa membranous, thin ; albumen cartilaginous 

 or sub-horny. EMBEYO small, included, often remote from the hiliun. 



