98 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Fig. 57. 



The M. acuminata is a large 

 tree found in the mountains of the 

 interior of the United States, from 

 New York to Georgia, and is po- 

 pularly known under the name of 

 Cucumber tree, from the size and 

 form of its fruit. The M. tripetala 

 has the same range, but is confined 

 in a great measure to the lower 

 grounds ; it is known under the 

 name of the Umbrella tree, on ac- 

 count of the great size and pecu- 

 liar arrangement of its leaves. 

 The M. macrophylla, a native of 

 the Southern and some of the 

 Western States, deserves notice 

 from the magnificence of its fo- 

 liage and flowers, which exceed in 

 size those of any of our trees, the 

 former being from a foot to two 

 feet in length, and the latter al- 

 most a foot in diameter. The 

 medicinal properties of these and 

 the other species are identical, and 

 as before stated, they may be sub- 

 stituted one for the other, without 

 inconvenience. None of the spe- 

 cies have edible fruits. 



M. macrophylla. 



Liriodendron. — Linn. 



Calyx 3-s2palled, caducous. Petals 6, spreading. Carpels closely imbricated. Samara 

 1 — 2-seeded, indehiscent, deciduous. 



This genus derives its name from the resemblance of its flowers to those of 

 a lily. It consists of but few species, one of which is peculiar to North Ame- 

 rica, and the others to the eastern parts of Asia. They are all trees, some- 

 times attaining an enormous size. 



L. tulipifera. — Linn. Leaves truncate, 3 — 4-lobed. 



Mich. Arb. Fores, iii. 202. Torrey and Gray, Flor. i. 43. Barton, Veg. 

 Mat. Med. i. 91. Bigelow, Med. Bot. ii. 107. Rafinesque, Med. Fl. ii. 

 229. Lindley, Flor. Med. 23. 



Common names. — Tulip tree, Poplar, American Poplar, White and Yellow 

 Poplar, &c. 



Foreign names. — Tulipier, Fr. Virginisher tulpenbaum, Gr. Tulipi- 

 fero, It. 



Description. — A very large tree, sometimes attaining a height of 100 to 120 feet, with 

 a diameter of 6 to 10 feet. Bark much furrowed and rugged when old, but smooth when 

 young. Leaves large, of a glossy green colour, trilobate, the middle lobe truncate, on 

 long petioles. Flowers tulip-shaped, variegated, greenish-yellow externally, orange with- 

 in. The petals are oblong and spathulate, nectariferous at base. The calyx is duplicate, 

 having a two-leaved involucrum, and a proper tri-sepalled perianth, which becomes re- 



