FAMILY. 



75 



it from Meadow-rue, is frequently found in old gardens, where it is culti- 

 vated as a medicinal herb. The plant is very acrid, and when handled 

 sometimes irritates or even blisters the skin, and to some persons it is 

 highly poisonous. Its properties are stimulant and narcotic, and though 

 sometimes used in domestic practice, in cholic, hysterics, &c., it is 

 altogether too dangerous a plant to be employed unadvisedly. Its oil 

 is a powerful poison. The plant was much used by the ancients, who 

 ascribed wonderful virtues to it; they had the idea that stolen Hue 

 flourished the best. At one time it was employed to sprinkle the holy 

 water in the ceremonies of the Roman Catholic church, which is per- 

 haps the reason of Ophelia's saying : " We may call it herb of grace, o' 



2. ZANTHOX'TLUM, Golden. PBICKLY ASH. 



[Greek, Zanthos, yellow, and JTylon, wood.] 



Flowers dio3cious. Sepals 5, or wanting in one species. Petals 4 -5, 

 imbricated. Stamens 4-5 in the sterile flowers, alternate with the 

 petals. Pistils 2-5, separate, but their styles conniving or slightly 

 united. Pods thick and fleshy, 2-valved when ripe, 1 - 2-seeded. Seed- 



coat crustaceous, black, smooth arid shining. Embryo straight, with 

 broad cotyledons. Shrubs or trees with mostly pinnate leaves ; the 

 stems and often the leaf-stalks prickly. Flcwers small, greenish or 

 white. 



1. Z. Anierican'ran, Mill. Leaves, and flowers in axillary clusters ; 



FIG. 53. Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum Americanum), portion of a pistillate specimen in 

 flower, the leaves not fully developed. 54. An enlarged staminate flower. 55. An 

 enlarged pistillate flower. 



