202 OllOBANCIIACE.E. 



A tree twenty to tifty feet liigli. Leaves mostly opposite, large, cor- 

 date, pointed, pubescent, at least beneath, long-petioled. Flowers in large, 

 sliowy, terminal iianicles, apj^earing in summer. 



Jlabllat. — Native of the S(jutheru States, but common in cultivation in 

 New England and New^ York. 



Farl/^ Uxi'd. — The bark and seeds — not official. 



ConKlifaciifx. — In the bark have been found tannin, an amori)hon8 

 bitter principle, a bitter, nauseous crystalline body, besides common vege- 

 table constituents. 



I'lrparaliouK — A decoction. 



Mfdicid Propcrlii^H and i'se;^. — Regarding the medicinal pi'operties of 

 catalpa, there is little to be said, for little of a detinite character is known. 

 It i^^ said to bo emetic and vormifuge, and to have been nsed in bronchitis 

 and asthma with beneficial effect. PiU'cher states that the honey col- 

 lected from the flowers is somewhat iioisonous. 



OROBANCHACE/E. 



Character of the Order. — Low, fleshy herbs, parasitic upon the roots of 

 other plants, destitute of green foliage, bearing scales instead of leaves. 

 Calyx 4- to ^-toothed or parted. Corolla m(>nopetalons, tubular, .^)-lobed, 

 more or less 2-lipped, withering-persistent. Stamens 4, inserted in pairs 

 upon the tube of the corolla. Ovary free ; style long, curved at the apex ; 

 stigma large. Pod 1-celled, 2-valved. Soeds numerous. 



A small order of unimportant plants. In general they possess bitter 

 and astringent pr'^perties. 



EPIPIIKGUS.— BF.F.cn-DuoPH. 



Epiphegus Virginiana ly.wton.—J'cech-Ih'ops, Canrcr-Tinot. 



Dn^rriptiou. — Calyx .^-toothed. Corolla of the upper flowers long, 

 tubular, curved, 4-toothed, whitish and purple ; of the lower flowers, 

 short, seldom expanding, but being forced from its base by the growth of 

 the pod. Po.I 2-valved at the apex, but with 2 partial partitions in each 

 valve. 



A slender much-branched herb, G to 12 inches high, purijlish or yel- 

 lowish-brown, with small scattered scales. Flowers racemose or spiked, 

 the upper sterile, the lower fertile, appearing late in sunmier. 



Jlabilat. — Parasitic upon the roots of beech-trees ; very common. 



Pari Used. — The entire plant — not official. 



ComlltuentH. — Unknown. 



Preparations. — Administered in decoction or powder. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Beech-drops has a disagreeable bitter 

 and astringent taste, which is much more pronounced in the recent than 

 in the dried specimen. It has been employed both topically and internally 



