210 



MEDICAL BOTAJMY. 



Fig. 108. 



Description. — Root perennial, 

 irregularly gibbous and horizon- 

 lal, brownish, mottled with green 

 externally, and greenish-white 

 internally. From the root spring 

 a number of radical leaves and 

 one or more stems ; these latter 

 are erect and terete, of a green 

 colour and furnished with reflexed 

 hairs. At the height of six to 

 ten inches, the stem becomes 

 forked, and at the point of divi- 

 sion are two large, petiolate 

 leaves, which are generally re- 

 flexed. The leaves on the upper 

 part of the stem are either sessile 

 or with very short petioles. The 

 peduncles arise from the dicho- 

 tomous divisions of the stem, 

 and bear two flowers on short 

 pedicels. The calyx consists of 

 five, oval, lanceolate, ribbed, cus- 

 pidate sepals, plumosely ciliate 

 on their outer margin, and mem- 

 branaceous on the other; some- 

 times three only of the sepals 

 are ciliate. The petals are five, 

 obovate, not emarginate. The 

 stamens are ten, furnished at 

 base with glands, and terminated , 

 by oblong, convex, deciduous an- 

 thers of a purple colour. The 

 ovary is ovate, bearing five styles, 

 at first, about the length of the 

 stamens, but finally longer; the 

 styles cohere to a permanent 

 central axis before maturity, but 

 separate from it in a twisted 

 form when the seed is ripe. The 

 capsule contains five seeds, which 

 become detached by the elasticity 

 of the awns. 



There are numerous varieties of this species ; in the form of the leaves, 

 colour of the flowers, and pubescence of the stem ; these depend on accidental 

 causes, as soil, exposure, &c. It is found in all parts of the United States, 

 generally growing in thickets, borders of wood, and hedges, where the soil is 

 low and damp, but is by no means confined to such situations. It flowers in 

 April and May. 



It was known to, and much esteemed by, the Indians, as an astringent ; but 

 the first account of its medical properties was given by Coelln in the fourth 

 volume of the Amoenitates Academics, on the authority of Colden ; he states 

 that it was found useful in dysentery. Shoepf, who seems to have considered 

 that every plant must be endowed with remedial powers, was not likely to 

 pass over one manifesting such marked qualities as the Geranium, and 

 speaks of it in high terms as a useful astringent. It is now recognised as a 

 regular article of the Materia Medica, and is admitted into the primary list in 

 the Pharmacopoeia. 



Medical Properties, fyc. — From the concurrent testimony of all who have 

 given the Geranium a fair trial, it is shown that it is a powerful astringent, 





G. maculatum. 



