240 EUriI0UBIACEJ3. 



corymbose racemes at tlic oiidn of the last year's branches, unfolding with 

 the leaves in April and May. 'I'iio twigs and young branches have a 

 smooth yellowish-green bark, while that of the trunk is grayish and 

 deeply furrowed. • ■». 



J lalnUU.— From Canada to Florida ; common. 



/'aria IJ.vd. — The bark of the root — t)fficial name, Sassafras; the pith 

 of tlie young blanches — official name, Sassafras medulla — L'liilcd States 

 I'haniiacojxi'ia. 



CondUaciifs. — Of the bark of the root, an aromatic volatile oil and the 

 common v-onstituents of plants. Of the pitli, gummy matter, which is 

 readily imparted to water, forming a limpid nnicilage. 



I'ri'iiainliiiit.". — ^Of the bark of the root : Oleum sassafriis — oil of sassa- 

 fras. Of the pith : Mucilago sassafras medulke — mucilage of sassafras 

 pith. — United States I'hurniacopwia. 



Medical Properties and Uaes. — Sassafras is an aromatic stimulant. Its 

 chief use is, howevei*, in the form of the oil, as a flavoring agent. Muci- 

 lage" of sassafras j)ilh is used as a demulcent in acute febrile and inflam- 

 matory affections. 



LINDERA.— SriCE-Busu. 



Lindera Benzoin Meisner — Spice-Jiu^h, Wild Allsjyire, Fever-Bush. 



lk'.-<cripti()ii. — Flowers polyganious-dittM-ious. Calyx G-parted, spread- 

 ing. Sterile flowers witli 9 stamens in 3 rows, the inner row bearing 

 glands at the base ; anthers 2-celled, 2-valved. Fertile flowers Avith 15 to 

 18 rudimentary stamens ; ovary globular. Fruit a i"ed, obovoid drupe. 



A shrub (5 to 15 feet high. Leaves oblong-obovate, entire, smooth. 

 Flowers yeJlow, in nearly sessile clusters, each of 4 to 6 flowei's, appearing 

 in ]\Iarch oi' April before the leaves. 



I lab Hal. '-hi danip woods and copses; common. 



P(Z/Vs Used. — The bark and fruit — not otlticial. 



Constilaents. — A volatile oil, and common vegetable principles. 



rre2)arafi()nfi. — The oil jiossesses all the medicinal virtues of the plant. 

 A deco(!tion of the bark or fruit is most commonly employed. 



jilcdiral Properties. — The bark of the spice-bush has a warm spicy taste, 

 and in suflicient doses acts as a vascular stiniulu'nt. It has been employed 

 to produce diaphoresis in acute inflanunatory and felnile attections. Tiie 

 fi'uit has been employed as a substitute for allspice, and, medicinally, for 

 the same purposes as the bai'k. The aroma of the plant is less pleasant 

 than that of sassafras. , 



SUPHORBIACE^. ' 



Character of the Order. — Plants with opposite or alternate, often stipu- 

 late leaves, commonly an acrid milky juice, and moncecious or diaMuous, 

 aiietalous, sometimes naked flowers. Perianth, when present, lobed, and 



