RANUNCULUS CROWFOOT BUTTERCUP. 61 



than to the medicinal effect of the drug. For in some instances, after 

 Pulsatilla had lost its effect, a new drug — it has appeared to matter little 

 just which one — has again given temporary relief. 



As a remedy in rheumatism, dropsy, paralysis, etc., pulsatilla does not 

 require serious attention. That its acrid and irritating properties might 

 be made available in stimulating excretion is possible, but our knowledge 

 is at present too limited to establish the point, and other better known 

 agents are always at hand. 



HEP ATICA. —Liverwort. 



Character of the Genus. — Involucre of 3 leaflets placed close to and 

 enveloping the flower bud, but becoming more distant after expansion by 

 the growth of the intervening portion of the scape ; otherwise similar to 

 anemone, of which genus many botanists consider this only a section. The 

 name hepatica has, however, become so well known that it ought to be re- 

 tained for sentimental, if not for scientific reasons. 



Perennial herbs, with a short rootstock and numerous strong fibrous 

 rootlets. Leaves all radical, of a thick leathery texture, persisting through 

 the winter, the new ones appearing after the flowers, the old ones then 

 withering away. The mature leaves have a dark brownish color, variegated 

 with irregular lighter-colored spots, somewhat resembling that of the liver, 

 whence the common name. Flowers numerous, on slender hairy scapes, 

 feach bearing a single one. They appear early in spring, soon after the 

 snow is gone. 



Hepatica triloba Chaix. — Bound-lobed Hepatica. 



Description. — Sepals 6 to 9, white, purplish, or blue. Leaves with 3 

 rounded, obtuse lobes ; leaflets of the involucre also obtuse. 



Habitat. — In upland woods ; common both here and in Europe. 



Hepatica acutiloba De Candolle. — Sharp-lobed Hepatica. 



Description. — Sepals 7 to 12, white, pinkish, or pale purple. Leaves with 

 3 acute or pointed lobes ; occasionally 5-lobed ; leaflets of the involucre 

 also acute. 



Habitat. — Widely distributed, like the preceding, but less common. 



Part Used. — The leaves — not official. 



Constituents. — Common vegetable principles, such as mucilage, sugar, 

 tannin, etc. 



Preparations. — Used in decoction and syrup. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — As a medicine hepatica is wholly inert, 

 and unworthy a place in the materia meclica. 



RANUNCULUS. — Crowfoot. — Buttercup. 



Character of the Genus. — Calyx : sepals generally 5, sometimes but 3. 

 Corolla : petals generally 5, sometimes more, occasionally but 3. Stamens 



