ICOSAXDKIA MOXOGYNIA 283 



1. P. pecaxdra, L. Leaves lance-ovate, acute at each end ; stamens 

 and styles 10. Beck, Bot. p. 299. 



Decandrous Phytolacca. Vulgd — Poke, Poke weed. Pigeon berry. 

 G*a//.-MorcIlc a grappes. Ger/w.-Kcrmcsbeere. Ifisp.-Yerba carmin. 



Root perennial, lar^c, fusiform and branching. Stem 1 to C feet high, and often 

 an inch or more in diameter, branching, terete, or obtusely ridged below the pcti 

 olefl and branches, finally purple. Leaves 4 to S or 10 inches long, and 2 or 3 to 5 

 inches wide, lance-ovate or ovate-oblong, acute or acuminate, entire, thin, smooth, 

 or roughish dotted, on petioles half an inch to 2 inches or more in length. Ra- 

 cemes 3 to 6 inches long, simple, slightly scabrous, mostly opposite the leaves, on 

 angular peduncles 2 to 4 inches in length; pedicels about half an inch long, divari- 

 cate, each with a subulate bract at base, and usually with 2 smaller sub-opposite 

 bracts near the middle. Perianth white ; segments ovate, persistent. Stamens 

 nearly as long as the perianth ; anthers yellowish while. Ovary depressed, orbic- 

 ular, obtusely 10-ribbed, green ; styles very short; stigmas recurved. Berries de- 

 pressed-globose, umbiiicate, obscurely furrowed and ribbed, dark purple and juicy 

 when mature. Seeds compressed, roundish-reniform purplish Hack, smooth and 

 shining. 



I lab. Rich banks ; borders of woods, <kc. frequent. FL June-Sept. Fr. Aug. -Oct. 



Obs. The young shoots of this are much used, and esteemed, in the spring, as 

 a substitute for Asparagus. The root is said to be actively emetic; and the tinc- 

 ture of the ripe berries has long been a popular remedy fur chronic rheumatism. 

 The mature berries, moreover, have been found to be esculent, when prepared by 

 the pastry cook, in the form of pies. The only species in the U. States. 



CLASS XI. ICOSAtfDRIA.* 

 Order 1. jVIonogynia. 



Ovary Superior. Jl. Fruit a Capsule. 



* I have not retained the name (Calycandria) proposed for this Class, in my 

 Catalogue,— because, although T still think ii appropriate, I am apprehensive the 

 attempt to supersede the long established, well understood, and universally receiv- 

 ed name, given by Linnaus, would be productive of more confusion than benefit* 

 1 avail myself of this occasion, however, in justice to myself, as well as to a distin- 

 guished Botanist of Europe, to notice a curious coincidence in the proposal of the 

 name Calycaftdria. When I began to arrange the materials for my Catalogue, in 

 1S13, that name (which, to be sure, is a very obvious one.) occurred to me, as more 

 expressive of the character of the Class to which it is applied. I submitted it to 

 my friend, the late Dr. Baldwin, who approved of it,— and I adopted it. Four years 

 after my Catalogue was published— viz. in 1830— T accidentally learned, for the 

 first time, that the identical name,— and also the arrangement of the Class afttr 

 Polyandria, — had been proposed by M. Richard, Sen. of France, so early as the 

 year 1807! I was much surprised, and felt somewhat flattered by the remarkable 

 coincidence ;— but at the same time was mortified by the apprehension, that those 

 who might observe the circumstance, without knowing the facts, would very natu- 

 rally conclude 1 had been perpetrating a despicable plagiarism. The affair, it is 

 true, is of but little moment; yet I could not forego the opportunity, thus presented, 

 of making an explanation. 



