624 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Medical Uses. — In small doses, it acts as a tonic and stomachic, but in 

 larger quantities, operates as an emetic and cathartic, and displays some nar- 

 cotic properties. It has been employed, in domestic practice, in a variety of 

 diseases, but has not attracted much attention from the profession, and its 

 real qualities are but little understood. The dose of the powder, as a tonic, 

 is about 10 grains. Pursh states, that it is esteemed an excellent remedy in 

 colic, and Dr. Cutler observes, that it has proved useful in chronic rheuma- 

 tism, and Dr. Thacher says, that it has been employed with benefit in drop- 

 sical affections. In some curious notes by John Bartram to Short's Mede- 

 cina Britannica, he says, " This precious root is a great resister of ferment- 

 ing poisons and grievous pains in the bowels, taken in powder, or the root 

 bruised and steeped in rum, of which take a spoonful at once." 



Order 109.— 1RIDACE.E.— Lindley. 



Calyx and corolla adherent or coloured ; their divisions either somewhat adherent or 

 wholly separate, sometimes irregular, the three petals being occasionally very short. 

 Stamens 3, inserted at the base of the sepals; filaments distinct or connate; anthers with 

 an external longitudinal dehiscence, fixed by their base, 2-celled. Ovary 3-celled, cells 

 many-seeded ; ovules anatropal ; style 1 ; stigmas 3, often petaloid, sometimes 2-lipped. 

 Capsule 3-celled, 3-valved, with a loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds spheroidal, angular, ob- 

 long or winged ; albumen horny or firmly fleshy ; embryo enclosed in it. 



These are herbaceous or rarely suffruticose plants, generally smooth, with 

 tuberous or fibrous roots, and mostly equitant and distichous leaves. Their 

 inflorescence is in terminal spikes, corymbs, or panicles. The bracts are 

 spathaceous, the partial ones often scarious. They are principally natives of 

 the Cape of Good Hope, and the middle parts of Europe and North America ; 

 a few only are tropical. 



The properties of the species of this order are very various : some are 

 diuretic, purgative, and emetic, some are stimulating, whilst others again are 

 edible. The roots of our native species of Sisijrinchium are acrid, and a 

 decoction of them is said to be purgative, as are also those of S. galaxioides 

 of Brazil. The tubers of Morcea chinensis are employed in decoction in 

 India, and as a cataplasm in bites of venomous reptiles (Rheede, Hort. Ma- 

 labo Those of Ferraria cathartica and F. 2)urgans, are prescribed in Brazil 

 as purgatives [Martins). The roots of Gladiolus communis are considered 

 in some parts of Europe as a specific in scrofula; the juice is given inter- 

 nally, and the bruised tuber is applied to the swellings. Those of G. plicatus 

 of the Cape of Good Hope are eatable and nutritious (Thunberg). G. sege- 

 tum was at one time supposed to be aphrodisiac. The stem of Wiiseria 

 maura is stated to abound in a rich saccharine juice (Bot. Reg.) 



Iris. — Linn. 



Perianth tubular, with a petaloid membranous limb; sepaloid segments revolute, often 

 bearded, the petaloid erect and converging. Stamens 3, hidden by the lobes of the style. 

 Style 3-parted, towards the upper end, with petaloid segments, covering the anthers, and 

 having a two-lipped transverse stigma below their apices. Capsule 3-celled, 3-valved, 

 with a loculicidal dehiscence, coriaceous, with numerous flat or round and fleshy seeds. 



An extensive genus, found at the Cape of Good Hope, in Siberia, Europe, 

 North America, &c. They almost all have acrid roots, though in some spe- 

 cies this quality is very slight. 



1. I. florenti na, Linn. — Rhizome horizontal, knotty, fragrant. Leaves broad, some- 

 what falcate, slightly waved at the edges, shorter than the stem. Flowers large, fragrant, 

 pale, bluish- white, bearded ; tube scarcely as long as the ovary. 



