64G MELANTHACE^. 



mandel, Prome, and N. Holland, 1 herb Heyn,, 1 Spreng. (from Cochin 

 China) ; 1 of Ledebouria, (Peninsula of India, Bundlekund) ; 1 of Tricyrtis, 

 (Himalayas) ; 7 of Disporum, (Himalayas, Khassya Mountains, Neelgher- 

 ries) ; and I of Drapiezia. (Java,) 



" This order is poisonous in every species, but more especially in the 

 Colchicum and Veratrum. The cormus of the former is a well known 

 acrid cathartic, narcotic, and diuretic ; the latter is a nauseous, dangerous 

 emetic. The medicinal properties of the root of Veratrum are owing to a 

 peculiar alkaline principle called Veratrin, which acts with singular energy 

 on the membrane of the nose, exciting violents neezings, though taken in 

 very minute quantity. When taken internally in very small doses, it pro- 

 duces excessive irritation of the mucous coat of the stomach and intestines ; 

 and a few grains are found fatal to the lower animals. Turner." (Lindl.) 

 Ornithoglossum, Salisb. (Spreng. syst. 2, p. 14, No. 1370; — Endl. gen. 

 pi. l,p. 135.) 

 I. glaucum, Salisb. {Parad. p. 54 ; — Schult. syst. S, p. 1536. — O. viride, 



Ait. ; — Spreng. 2,/?. 147. — Lichtensteinia laevigata, Willd. — Cymation 



Isevigatum, Spreng. 2, p. 147. — Melanthium viride, Thunb. ; B. M. 



25, t. 994.) 2/.-C. G. H. Fl. middle-sized, green, edged with brown. 



Introduced in March 1841. Has not fl. yet, 

 Anguillaria, R. Br. {pr.p. 273 ; — Spreng. syst. 2, p. 14, No. 1368 ; — 

 Endl.gen.pl. \,p. 136.) 

 l.indica, R, Br, (I. c. ; — Spreng. syst. 2, p. 146; — Schult. syst. 8, p. 



1538 i—Wall. pi. as. rar. 3. /. 259 ;— 7. Grah. Cat. B. pi. p. 222, 



excl. syn. Roth. — Melanthium indicum, L.) % Tropical N. Holland. 



Coromandel. The Concans. Kandalla. Prome. Nepal. Kamaon. Fl. 



smallish, dark-purple, inodorous. Introduced into H. C. G. Fl. ? 

 Melanthium, L. (Spreng. syst. 2, p. 14, No. 1367 ; — Endl. gen. pi. 1, p. 



136.) 

 l.junceum, Jacq. (Icon. rar. 2,^451. — Spreng. syst. 2, p. 146 ;— -S. 



M. 16, t. 558. — M. triquetrura, Thunb.; — Schult. syst. 8. p. 1547, 



48.— Phalangium. Houtt. Lin.pfl. syst. t. 80,/. 3.) % C. G. H. Fl. 



middle-sized, whitish, each petal marked with two dark crimson spots. 



Introduced in March 1841. Has not fl. yet, 

 Androcymbium, Willd. (Spreng. syst. 2, p. 14, No. 1359; — Endl. gen. 



pi. \,p. 1.36.) 

 1. eucomoides, Willd. (Spreng. syst. 2, p. 143 ;— Schult. syst. 8, p. 1526. 



— Melanthium eucomoides, Jacq. ic. rar. 2, t- 452 ; — E. M. 17, t. 



641.) %. C. G. H. Fl. smallish, green. Introduced in Murch 1841. 



Has not fl. yet. 

 WuRMBEA, Thunb. (Spreng. syst. 2, p. 15, No. 1373 ; — EJndl. gen. pi. I, 



p. 136.) 

 \. purpurea, Dryand. (Spreng. syst. 2, p. 147; — Schult. sgst. 8, p. 



1542.— Melanthium spicatum, Houtt. nat. hist. 12, p. 429, t. 85, 



excl. syn. Burm. ,~~B. M. 19, t. 694.) 'i\. C. G. M. Fl, middle- 



