530 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Fig. 228. and attached to the sides of a large, 



round, sessile stigma. The capsule is 

 obovate, with six angles, six cells, and 

 containing numerous seeds. 



There are numerous varieties of 

 this plant, some of which may be 

 found to be entitled to the rank of 

 species. The leaves in some, are 

 narrow and almost hastate, whilst 

 in others they are broad. The 

 specimens figured in the respective 

 works of Bigelow, Barton, and Ra- 

 finesque differ much. Thus that 

 of the first has tri-nervate, undu- 

 lated leaves, with large, bilabiate, 

 red flowers, the peduncles with 

 large and broad scales, and the 

 stamens amounting to twelve. 

 That represented by Barton has 

 long and slender peduncles, al- 

 most destitute of scales, and the 

 flowers small, purple, and scarce- 

 ly bilabiate ; that of Rafinesque, 

 which is drawn from a western 

 specimen, represents the variety 

 most commonly found in this vi- 

 cinity, though that of Barton is not 

 unfrequently met with. 



Under the name of Virginia 

 Snakeroot, several species are 

 confounded in the drug market, — 

 namely, those of the A. serpenta- 

 ria and its varieties ; of the A. 

 tomentosa, A. hastata, A. hirsuta, and A. reticulata; the latter of which, 

 of recent introduction, is now much used. This is of no consequence 

 in a remedial point of view, as they are identical, or nearly so, in their pro- 

 perties, but is of interest to the medical botanist, and they will therefore be 

 noticed before entering upon the properties and uses of Snakeroot. In these 

 observations much assistance has been derived from an essay on the subject 

 by Dr. Bridges {Am. Jour. Pharm. xiv. 118). 



2. A. hirsuta, Muhlenberg. — Stem flexuous, jointed, erect, pubescent. Leaves alter- 

 nate, large, cordate, rounded, obtuse ; upper ones abruptly acuminate, very pubescent, 

 with prominent veins. Peduncles sub-radical, scaly, 1-flowered, hirsute. Calyx also 

 pubescent. 



This species is a native of the Southern States, and is seldom or never 

 brought to this market, but is employed at the South. The root consists of 

 numerous slender, simple fibres, arising from a knotty caudex ; they are of 

 a yellowish colour, aromatic odour, and aromatic, bitter taste. 



3. A. hastata, Nuttall— Stem flexuous, simple, erect. Leaves mostly sub-cordate, 

 hastate, acute, or attenuated, sub-lanceolate, auriculate. Peduncles nearly all radical. 

 Lip of the corolla ovate. 



This is the A. sagittata, Muhlenberg, (Cat. p. 81, No. 611-4,) and also 



A. serpen tana. 



