38 _ WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 
kinds of spines. ‘Though not generally enumerated among the pm 
lants, it possesses many siukBten which adapt it to this use; being v 
eset long lived, and easily peapegyied. It w as formerly a pedehes ar 
belief, i ils moh 
mee the power of blasting esis." ” The fallacy of this idea 
proved ; the only injury it can cause the grain is by shading it, which it 
is very li oy like ly to do when allowed to grow, unchecked, along the a 
of fields. The berries, preserved in sugar, are in common New 
0 
fevers. The inner bark has tonic and purgative properties, said to be 
somewhat Similar to those of rhubarb ; Hd . one of the remedies of the 
so called “Indian Doctors,” accordin om the virtues are essen- 
tially | modified by the ct oh = which t “are is removed, whether by 
scraping oe or down 
A vari reiki “pli iage, and several Asiatic species, are cul- 
tivated. The Ma hoi which are evergreen Barberries with pinnate 
leaves, are natives of the far west, and are fine ornamental — 
2. PODOPHYL’LUM, L. May-appue, 
(Greek, Pous, a foot and Phyllon, a leaf; the leaf resembling a web-foot.] 
Sepals 6, —s and caducous, not Sxpanney apter g by 3 caducous 
Petals 6-9. Stamens twice as the petals ; aabiees 
ong, ay length wise by a la in Soa hinged valve. 
1. P. pelta’tum, L. Sie bearing 2 deeply lobed leaves; flower 
1 pe the point where the cing 2 dn ef 
Penrats PoporHyiium. May-apple. iecicke ‘Hog.epple. 
nehes high single large peltate leaf. 
Stems 8 ~12 i exigadenes bey bey toongs 
4-6 inches in diameter, sh loties bo what toothed at the at Flower white, nearly ay 
inches broad. Fruit 1-2 fgesd tong, ‘yellowish, si slighty acid. 
Woodlands, common. Fl. May. July — —Aug' 
