96 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



are deemed efficacious in Canada, in bites of venemous snakes, and as a 

 resolvent in contusions. The root of T.jiavum is purgative, and according to 

 Martius, is considered as beneficial in Russia, in cases of hydrophobia. A 

 peculiar principle called Thalictrine has been obtained from it by Mr. Lesson, 

 which, he says, is useful in intermittent fevers, in doses of 10 or 15 grains. 

 The roots of T. sinense are said by Loureiro, (Fl. Cochin, i. 143,) to be laxa- 

 tive and demulcent, and to be used in China in pectoral complaints. The 

 several species of Trollius and Ficaria have the same properties as those of 

 Ranunculus, and were considered at one time as beneficial in scorbutic dis- 

 eases, but are now gone out of use. 



Order 2.— MAGNOLIACE^.— Be Candolle. 



Trees or shrubs with alternate, entire leaves, mostly coriaceous and minutely punctate, 

 with convolute deciduous stipules. Flowers solitary, usually large, fragrant. Calyx ca- 

 ducous, of 3-6 sepals. Corolla of 3-30 petals in several rows. Stamens numerous, with 

 adnate anthers. Ovaries several, distinct, superior, 1-celled ; style short, with a simple 

 stigma. Fruit various, of numerous 1-2-seeded carpels follicular or baccate, or woody, 

 or fleshy ; aggregated in a cone-like form on an elongated torus. Seeds anatropous, sus- 

 pended or ascending, with a fleshy albumen containing a small embryo at base. 



The plants of this order are remarkable for the elegance of their foliage, 

 the size and fragrance of their flowers, and for their medicinal properties, 

 which are those of aromatic, bitter tonics. They are natives of America and 

 Asia, and are all trees or shrubs ; no species are found in Africa or the ad- 

 jacent islands. 



Magnolia. — Linn. 



Calyx with 3 sepals. Corolla of 6-12 petals. Carpels 1-2 seeded, persistent, forming 

 a cone-like fruit; opening by a dorsal suture. Seeds fleshy, suspended when ripe by a 

 thread. 



This genus was dedicated by Linnaeus to Magnol, Professor of Botany at 

 Montpellier in the 17th century. It contains above seven or eight American 

 species, and about as many Asiatic. Those peculiar to the United States are 

 all trees, with fragrant flowers, and an aromatic, bitter bark. The medical 

 qualities of all of them appear to be identical, and they may therefore be em- 

 ployed indifferently. The U. S. Pharmacopoeia recognises three species in 

 the secondary list, M. glauca, M. acuminata, and M. tripetala. 



M. glauca. — Linn. — Leaves oblong or oval, obtuse, white beneath ; petals 9-12, ovate, 

 narrowed at base, erect. 



Mich. Arb. Fores, iii. 77 ; Bigelow, Am. Med. Bot. ii. 67 ; Barton, Veg. 

 Mat. Med. ii. 77 ; Rafin. Med. Flor. ii. 31 ; Torrey & Gray, Flor. N. A. i. 

 32 ; Lindley, Flor. Med. 23. 



Common names. — White Bay, Beaver-tree, Sweet Magnolia, Small Mag- 

 nolia, Swamp Sassafras. 



Description. — Trunk with a smooth grayish bark, the branches crooked, and much 

 divaricated. The leaves are alternate, of a long, oval shape, very entire, coriaceous, of 

 a yellowish-green above, and glaucous beneath. The flowers are terminal and solitary, 

 composed of many oval, concave, cream-coloured petals, and possess a bland and 

 delicious odour. They are succeeded by small, squarrosc, fleshy cones, of about an 



