HYDRANGEA. 143 



Proparnlions. — Of hlackhcrry root : Extr.aotnm ml)i fliiidum — fluid ex- 

 tract of rulnis ; syrupiis rubi — Kyruj) of rubiis. Of Ilubvis Idauis (or It. 

 .slrigofius or It. vcculcn(alix) : Syrupua rubi iduci — syrup of raspljerry. — 

 United Slalca IViai'macojicsia. 



Medical /Properties and Usei<. — Blackberry in used as n mild astringent 

 chiefly in the diarrluras of infants and young children. It is generally 

 well borne by the stomach, and though less eflicicnt than many other 

 drugs which are used for the Hame purposes, may often be employed with 

 excellent results. 



Rispberries, in the form of the official syrup, are used only as a vehicle. 



SAXIFRACACE/E. 



A largo order of herbs, shrubs, or trees, whoso limits are not alto- 

 gether settled. As the medicinal species of tho order indigenous to 

 North America are few in number and belong to diff"crent, well-charac- 

 tei'ized sub-orders, it is more convenient to study them under the latter 

 tlian to attemjit, from the few sjiecics examined, to characterize the entire 

 order. 



HYDRANGEA. 



CJiaracfer of th'i Sah-Order. — Shrubs or trees, with opjiosite, simple, 

 exsti2)idate leaves. Flowers in cymes, the central ones complete, the 

 outer ones with large petals, and often biu'ren. Calyx more or less adher- 

 ent to the ovary, 4- to fi-toothed. Petals 4 to G, deciduous. Stamens 

 8 to 12, in two rows, or numerous, attached to tho calyx. Ovary of 2 to 5 

 cai'pels united ; styles 2 to 5. Fruit a many-seeded capsule, crowned with 

 the persistent L..yles. 



ITYDllAXGEA. 



Hydrangea arborescens Linne.-n'iW Ilijdrangea. 



Z)esen)j<to».— Calyx-tube hemisplie:ical, 8- to 10-i'ibbed, coherent Avith 

 the ovary, the limb 4- to 5-toothed. Petals ovate, valvate iu the bud. 

 Stamens 8 to 10, filiform. Capsule 2-celled, many-seeded, crowned with 

 the persistent styles. 



A shrub, 4 to 8 feet high. Leaves 3 to G inches long, ovate, rarely cord- 

 ate, acuminate, serrate, green both sides. Cymes flat ; the marginal flow- 

 ers usually sterile and radiant, consisting of a llat, dilated, and colored 

 calyx ; sometimes all fertile. 



Iluhilat. — Rocky banks from New Jersey to the mountains of Georgia 

 and westward to Illinois. 



I^art Used. — The root — not official. 



Gonalituenis. — Analysis has not as yet yielded any results which throw 

 light upon the asserted therapeutic properties of this plant. • 



