80 BERBERIDACE^E. 



in several rows on n lateral placenta, with a flcsliy lacerate aril on one 

 side. 



An herbaceous perennial, with a thick, somewhat fleshj', horizontal, 

 fihrous-rootcd rliizome, from which arises a simple l-Howcred scape, and a 

 tuft of long-petioled, bil'oHato, or deeply 2-parted radical loaves, with ob- 

 long, foliaceous sheaths at their base. Leaves glaucous beneath ; lamina 

 parted into 2 semi-ovate segments, appearing like a pair of leaves (whence 

 the name twin-leaf), eav-h 3 to 4 inches king, nearly 2 inches wid(>, obscurely 

 toothed or sinuate. Flowers white, about 1 inch in diametei', appearing 

 in April or May. The fruit matures in July. 



Habitnt. — In rich, shady woods, on limestone soils, from New York to 

 Tennessee. Not very common. 



rarls Uxcd. — The rhizome and rootlets — not official. 



Constituents. — In addition to the common plant constituents, one analyst 

 has discovered in Jeflfersonia a bitter i)rinciple and an acrid acid analogous 

 to that existing in Pohjcjala Senega, termed polygalic acid, having the acrid 

 and nauseous taste of the root, and capable of producing persistent nausea 

 and vomiting, Anotlier analyst found a small quantity of berberina and a 

 lai'ger proportion of a white alkaloid. 



Prepurulion.s. — Tl. "re are neither ofHcial nor commei'cial preparations 

 of this plant. Its virtues are yielded to boiling water, and it may therefore 

 be administered in decoction or infusion. 



Medical rropcrties and Uses. — Jeffersonia is said to be alterative, anti- 

 spasmodic, diuretic, diaphoretic, and expectorant. That it may possibly 

 proikice an alterative efl'ect tlu'ough the tonic inlluence of its alkaloid ber- 

 bei'ina is not unlikely, but the other elTects attributed to it are probably 

 largely duo to its mode of administration rather than to its specific proper- 

 ties. Being rather nauseoiis, large quantities of it in decoction might 

 readily induce antispasn^.odic, diaphoretic, or expectorant eftects. It has 

 been used as a substitute for senega, to which it bears some analogy as 

 shown by analj'sis, and in chronic rheumatism, secondary syphilis, nervous 

 affections, etc., chiefly in domestic practice. Eatiuesque thought it wortliy 

 of investigation. 



PODOPHYLLUM. — May-Apple. 



Podophyllum peltatum Linne. — ]\[aii- Apple, Mandrahe. 



Description. — Calyx : sepals G, unequal, obtuse, imbricate, pale green, 

 caducous, with 3 small, fugacious braetlets at their base. Corolla : petals 

 G to 9, obovate, twice the leugth of the sepals, white. Stamens 12 to IS, 

 twice the nund^er of the petals, hypogynous, with short, slender filaments ; 

 anthers linear-oblong, about the length of the filaments, 2-celled, open- 

 ing longitudinally, and not upward by valves as is the rule with the order. 

 Ovary ovoid, 1-celled, with many ovules ; stigma sessile, large, thick, and 



