POLYGOXATUM SOLO:MON's SEAL. 275 



linear, spreading, white, withering-persistent sepals. Stamens longer than 

 the sepals ; anthers yellow. Pistillate flowers with rndimentary stamens ; 

 styles 3, revolute. Pod ovoid-oblong, membranaceous, 3-valved, mauj'- 

 seeded. 



An herbaceous perennial. Stem simple, wand-like, 1| to 2 feet high, 

 from a short, thick rootstock with numerous fibrous rootlets. Leaves flat, 

 lanceolate, the lowest spatulate, tapering into a petiole. Flowers in a ter- 

 minal spicate raceme, 4 to 9 inches long, appearing in June. 



Hah'at. — In low grounds from New England to Illinois and southward. 



I^arls Used. — The rhizome and rootlets — not official. 



Co)ii<(i(uerits. — A bitter neutral principle, termed chamcelirin, and com- 

 mon vegetable constituents. 



Prcpardlimm. — Commonly used in infusion or tincture. An iini)ure 

 resinous substance, termed Jichmin, is considerably employed by eclectics. 

 It is prepared by precipitation from the alcoholic tincture. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Blazing-star is said to be tonic and an- 

 thelmintic ; it is probably little more than a simple bitter. 



CONVALLARIA.— Lily of the Valley. 



Convallaria majalis Linn«' — Lih/offhe VaUey. 



Description. — PeriaJith bell-shaped, (5-lobed, white, deciduous. Stamens 

 G, shorter than the perianth and inserted on its base. Ovary 8-celled ; 

 style simple, stout ; stigma triangular. Fruit a red, few-seeded berry. 



A low, stemless perennial, with slender, running rootstocks, and fibrous 

 rootlets. Leaves two, oblong, their long petioles rolled one within the 

 other. Scape somewhat angular, having a one-sided raceme of beautiful, 

 fragrant flowers, which appear in Ma}'. 



Habitat. — On high mountains from Virginia southward ; si:ccifica,lly 

 identical with tlie common flower of gardens of the same name which was 

 introduced from Europe. 



Pi is Used. — The rhizomo and rootlets — not official. 



Constituents. — Two glucosides, termed vonvallarin and convallamarin, 

 besides the common constituents of plants. 



Prcf .-ations. — It is commonly employed in the form of fluid extract. 



Medical Properties and L^•ex. — Convallaria has been recently reintro- 

 duced as a remedy, and is being considcral)ly experimented with as a 

 cardiac tonic. In action it somewhat resembles digitalis. Its sphere of 

 usefulness is not, as yet, accurately defined. 



FOLYGONATUM.— Solomon's Seal. 



Charactf of the Grnns. — Perianth cylindrical, fJ-lobed at the margin. 

 Stamens (5, inserted about the middle of the tube of the perianth, included. 

 Ova/j' 3-celled, each cell 2- to fi-ovuled ; style slender, jointed ; stigma ob- 

 scurely 3-lol)ed. Fruit a globular, black or blue, 3- to G-seeded berry. 



