IV PREFACE. 



In tlie 800011(1 part, or ^fodicinal Plants of North Amorioa. I have 

 presented a sjHtoinatic arranf^eniont and description of most of the 

 medicinal sjieoies, hoth indigenous and n; 'iii'alizod, whicii grow upon 

 this continent. 1 liave not, however, endeavored to make the list 

 complete, hut ratlior to exercise a judicious discrimination in selecting 

 the most important. Very nmny species have heen noticed merolj to 

 condeirni them ; still these often serve a useful ptn-pose as examples of 

 orders or genera. 



I'lider the title, CharcwUr of the Oi'<lct\ ai'o given the prominent 

 and characteiistic features of the order as a whole; and under the 

 title, Character of the Genus, the distinguishing characteristics of the 

 gemis. In case only a single species of a ;.'cnns is descrihed, the chai'- 

 acter of the latter is omitted. 



Following the Deserijition of a species are its llahitat, or place of 

 growth, the Part used medicinally. Constituents, Prejxirations, and 

 a brief account of its Medical Projpertles and Uses. 



The M'ords, United States Phar'mac,o])a'ia, following the names of 

 parts used, or of preparations, signify that such parts or prcjtarations 

 are oflRcial ; and official, throughout the work, signifies directed by the 

 Pharmacopcein,, the only recognized authority. 



Everywhere brevity and conciseness have been aimed at, but no- 

 where more than in the notes upon the medical properties and uses. 

 Here I have paid little attention to traditiojis, except when I could 

 trace them to a substantial foundation, believing that, in such matters, 

 a judicious scepticism is wiser than blind credulity. In general, I have 

 summarized the opinions of authors whom I consider most reliabloj 

 and have also drawn freely from the records of my own experience 

 and observation. 



In the botanical part of the volume, I have followed no author ex- 

 clusively. Among those whoso works I have most frequently con- 

 sulted are Baillon, Barton, Bentham, Bontley and Ti-imen, Bigelow, 

 Chapman, Figuior, Gray, Griffith, Lindley, Michaux, Porcher, Pursh, 

 Ilafinesque, Torrey and Gray, and Woodville. I scarcely i. ?ed add 

 that I have had constant access to specimens, both recent and dried ; the 

 latter either in my own herbarium or in that of Columbia College. 



The colored plates and a fe.w of the illustrations on wood are from 



