282 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



shrub, with white corymbose flowers, very common on the banks of streams 

 in most parts of the country. Rafinesque states that it is possessed of the 

 same properties as the Hard-hack, but some experiments with it have not 

 confirmed this statement ; its astringency is much less, and it also possesses 

 an unpleasant odour that militates against its use as an internal remedy. It 

 is, however, useful as an external application in the form of fomentation or 

 cataplasm to ulcers and tumours. The seeds are extremely bitter, and are 

 said to be tonic. 



The leaves and roots of S. ulmaria and S. filipendula, natives of Europe, 

 but generally cultivated in our gardens as ornamental plants, are bitter and 

 astringent, and also possess some diuretic qualities ; hence they have been 

 found useful in certain cases of disease of the urinary organs as a substitute 

 for uva ursi. The flowers of the first are aromatic, and a fragrant water 

 forming a pleasant beverage, may be distilled from them. (Lindlev, Flor. 

 Med. 230.) 



Gillenia. — Moench. 



Calyx sub-campanulate, 5-toothed. Petals 5, linear-lanceolate, somewhat unequal, 

 long. Stamens 10 — 15, mostly included, 5, sometimes shorter. Styles 5, contiguous, 

 Carpels 5, distinct, or at first connate, 2 — 4-seeded. 



The genus Gillenia was long considered as forming part of Spirea, until 

 Moench proposed to separate the species composing it into a distinct genus ; 

 his suggestion was for a long time disregarded, and it has only been within a 

 recent period that botanists have assented to its propriety. It differs from 

 Spirea in having the stamens mostly included, instead of exserted, in the cap- 

 sule being uniformly of five carpels, each containing two to four seeds. It is 

 exclusively North American, and consists of but two species, which are iden- 

 tical in their medical properties. 



G. trifoliata, Moench. — Leaves trifoliolate, upper folioles lanceolate, serrate, unequal ; 

 lower ones obtuse, with an abrupt, acute termination. Stipules linear, setaceous. 



Moench, Suppl. 286 ; Bigelow, Med. Bat. iii/t. 41 ; Barton, Veg. Mat. 

 Med. i. t. 5 ; Griffith, Jour. Phil. Coll. Pharm. iv. 177 ; Spircea trifoliata, 

 Linn., Sp. PI. 702 ; Bot. Mag. 489. 



Common Names. — Indian Physic ; Bowman's Root ; Ipecacuanha, &c. 



Description. — Root perennial, composed of a great number of slender brown fibres 

 arising in a radiated manner, from a brown irregular tuber. Some of these fibres are 

 very long, and are knotted or annulated for some distance, as in the true Ipecacuanha. 

 The number of stems varies much, there sometimes being only one, and at others many, 

 arising from the same root. These stems are branched above, and are about two or 

 three feet high, of a reddish or brownish colour. The leaves are all ternate ; the upper 

 leaflets lanceolate, serrate, and nearly equal, the lower broader at the end, but terminated 

 abruptly by an acute point. The stipules are linear and entire. The flowers are in ter- 

 minal, loose panicles, and are composed of five lanceolate, narrow petals, somewhat obtuse 

 and unguiculate at their insertion. They are usually white, but sometimes of a rose red. 

 The calyx is tubular, campanulate, terminating in five sharp segments. The stamens are 

 about twenty, inserted in the calyx, and included, with small anthers. The styles are 

 five, with obtuse stigmas. The capsule is composed of five carpels, connate at base, one- 

 celled, two-seeded. 



The Indian Physic is found from Canada to Florida on the east side of the 

 great ridge of mountains, generally in hilly woods, in light gravelly soil. It 

 begins to flower towards the latter end of May, and continues in inflorescence 

 for about a month, ripening its seeds in August. It early attracted the atten- 



