220 GENTIAN ACEtE. 



partition extending nearly to the top. Seeds very numerous, rather large, 

 flat. 



A coarse glabrous annual. Stem erect, 1 to 3 feet high, with spread- 

 ing, forked branches, green. Leaves rather large, ovate, with irregular, 

 angular, or pointed teeth or lobes. Flowers solitary, on short peduncles, 

 in the forks or at the ends of the branches ; they have a sickening odor. 



A plant differing from this only in being rather more robust, and in 

 having a purplish stem and pale violet-purple flowers, is recognized by 

 some authors as a distinct species under the name Datura Tatula Linne. 



Habitat, — Common in waste places. T>. Stramonium is a native of 

 Asia ; D. Tatula is rather doubtfully attributed to tropical America. 



Parts Used. — The leaves and seeds of D. Stramonium — United States 

 Pharmacopoeia. D. Tatula is just as efficient. 



Constituents. — The most important constituent of stramonium is the al- 

 kaloid daturia, which is found in all parts of the plant. Daturia produces 

 effects similar to those of atropia, and is said by some chemists to be a 

 mixture of atropia and hyoscyamia. 



Preparations. — Of the leaves — no official preparations. Of the seeds : 

 extractum stramonii — extract of stramonium ; extractum stramonii fluidum 

 — fluid extract of stramonium ; tinctura stramonii — tincture of stramo- 

 nium ; unguentum stramonii — stramonium ointment. — United States Phar- 

 macopoeia. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — In its effects upon the human system in 

 a state of health, stramonium closely resembles belladonna ; therapeuti- 

 cally, however, each of the two seems to have a sphere of its own. Stra- 

 monium is employed chiefly in spasmodic diseases, particularly those affect- 

 ing the respiratory organs. It is probably more used in spasmodic asthma 

 than in all other diseases taken together. Here it is not only employed 

 internally, but the leaves are often smoked, the smoke-being inhaled, with 

 the happiest effect. It has also some reputation in whooping-cough, dys- 

 menorrhoea, renal colic, etc. Externally the freshly bruised leaves and 

 ointment are often employed in rheumatism and other painful affections. 



GENTIANACE^. 



Character of the Order. — Herbs with opposite, entire, simple, usually 

 ribbed leaves, without stipules. Calyx divided, persistent. Corolla wither- 

 ing-persistent, convolute, rarely imbricate or valvate in the bud. Stamens 

 of the same number as the lobes of the corolla, alternate with them, and 

 inserted on its tube. Ovary 1 -celled, with 2 parietal placentae, or with 

 nearly the whole inner face of the ovary bearing ovules ; style 1 ; stigmas 

 2. Fruit commonly a 2-celled, many-seeded pod. 



A large order of plants, generally possessing bitter tonic properties. 



