ALETUIS — STAR-GRASS. 209 



the Hhapo of a triangfular, greenish-yellow, spotted body, corresponding 

 with tlio fertile Ktamen of other orchidH, and covering the Humniit of the 

 style ; ntigm.: tenuinal, broad, obscurely li-lobed, moist, not viscid, 



A perennial, 3 to 2 feet high, with a horizontal rhizome, tufted 

 fibrous '-ootlets, and ntrongly ribbed, Blightly pubescent leaves ; stem also 

 pubescent, 1- to 2-tlowered. 



Another species, G. parmfhmun, Salisbury, is very similar," if not iden- 

 tical with this ; at least it is extremely difficult to distinguish on(! from 

 the other. 



Jfabilal. —Id bogs, swamps, and low woods ; sometimes in mountain 

 woods. Widely distributed, and, in some regions, common. Tlie vary- 

 ing conditions und'3r which it will llourish are rather remarkable. The 

 author, while seeking plants to illustrate Hiis woi-k, found it in a dry situ- 

 ation on th^ Oi'ango Mountains, N, J., and again in AVestern New York, 

 in a deep, and almost impassible swamp, where it grew upon moss-covered 

 logs, surrounded ])y water. 



Parts Used. — The rhizome and rootlets of C pubescons and C. i)arvi- 

 florum — United Stafeti Pharmacopada. 



(]imditaents.—\. minute quantity of volatile oil, volatile acid, resin, 

 and common vegetable princii)les. 



J'n'nanifionx. — Extractum cypripedii lluidum — fluid extract of Cy- 

 pripedium. — United States Pharniacopwla. 



Medical Properties and L'sw.— Cypripediuni is a mild nervous stinui- 

 lant and anti-spasmodic, acting fiomewhat like valerian, but less efficiently. 

 Its use is almost entirely restricted to hysterical affections, though it is 

 said to have been employed successfidly in epilepsy, neuralgia, and other 

 nervous diseases. 



H/EMODORACE>E. 



Cfiaracter of the Order. — Perennial herbs with fibrous roots, ensiform, 

 equitant leaves, and bearing woolly hairs or scui'f on their stems and flow- 

 ers. Perianth 0-cleft at the summit, cohering with the whole surface;, or 

 with the base only of the ovary. Stamens 3 to 0, inserted at the base of 

 the lobes of the perianth. Ovary 3-celled ; style single, often 8-cleft. 

 Pod crowned or enclosed by the persistent perianth, 3-celled, 3- to many- 

 seeded. 



A small order of mainly unimportant plants. 



ALETRIS. — Stah-G n A8S. 



Aletris farinosa Linno. — Star-Gra.'is, Colic-Root. 



Description. — Perianth oblong-tubular, G-cleft, not woolly, but wi-inkled 

 and roughened, cohering wif i the base of the ovary, white. Stamens G. 



