VArciNiArE.E. 171 



This fomis is very large, containing about 400 species, about 20 of which 

 are indigenous to the United States. Both tlie L. cardiualis and L. syphilitica 

 possess the narcotic poisonous properties of L. iuflata, but in a milder degree. 



Geofjmphi/. — The geographical distribution of tliis genus is very wide, and 

 it has representatives in all parts of the world ; l)ut the L. inHata is confined to 

 North America, ranging fr(jni North Carolina to Canada, and west to Kentucky. 



Etymoloyij. — 'lhe name Lobelia was given to this plant in honor of Matthias 

 de Lobel, a native of Lisle, l)()tanist and physician to James I. The specific 

 name injiata is Latin, and due to the circumstance that the pods are inflated. 

 Kinetic weed derives its name from the powerful emetic (lualities wiiich the 

 plant possesses. Indian tobacco owes its name to the fact that this plant is 

 used by the North American Indians, and that its effects are similar to tho.se 

 of tobacco. It is expectorant and diaphoretic in small doses, but in full 

 medicinal doses, nauseating and emetic. Cardiualis and cardinal are names 

 due to the large, showy, intensely red flowers of this species. Syp/iilitica 

 derives its name from the fact that this plant is used as a remedy in .syphi- 

 litic disea.ses, while the common name, blue cardinal, is due to the fact that this 

 species, though otherwise similar to the L. cardiualis, has briglit l)lue flowers. 



History. —The only history the Lobelia inHata can boast of is due to the 

 controversy carried on some years ago by the physicians of the old school and 

 the Thomsonian empirics, the latter claiming marvelous curative properties 

 for it, and proclaiming it a useful and harmless medicine, while the regular 

 physicians denounced it as a dangerous poison, to 1)0 avoided or used with 

 great caution. 



Chemistry. — The exact chemical character is not known. It yields to 

 analysis an alkaloid liquid lobeliana, and an acid called lobelic acid; these 

 substances reside in all parts of the plant. 



Use. — IjoheWa iuflata has gained renown as an empiric remedy. It enters 

 into almost every preparation of the Thomsonian physicians ; they place great 

 reliance upon its virtues as a tonic, emetic, and bilious excitant. The root of 

 the L. syphilitica is extensively used by the North American Indians. 



Order XXXII VACCINIACE^. 



Flower.s 4-.>meroii.«;, rognlar. Calyx adiiate to th(^ ovary ; petals 

 united; 8-10 stamens; anthers opening; at the apex: ovarv several- 

 celled. Fruit, a berry or drupe. Shrubs, with alternate exstipulate 

 leaves. 



No. of oenera, '20. 



GAYLUSSACIA, 11. R. K. (llnckleberry.) Corolla a short, ecrg-shaped 

 tube, with a .'vcleft edge; limb reflexed ; stamens 10; anthers without 

 awns; cells tapering upward.s, forming a .sub-tubular process opening 

 at top; style longer than stamens; stigma flat. Fruit globular, flat- 

 tened at top with 4-5 cells; seeds many. Flower solitary, pedicellate, 

 racemose, drooping, pinkish. Fruit black or !>liiish 



1. G. dumosa, Torr, and Oray. (Dwarf Whortleberry, or Huckleberry.) 

 Clothed with fine hairs, and glandular. Leaves oblong-ovate, mucronate, 

 both sides green, shining when old ; racemes long ; bracts oval, and as long 

 as the pedicels, persistent ; corolla campannlate. Fruit black, tastele.ss. Var. 

 Hirtella is distinguished by having the young branchlets, racemes, and leaves 



