240 EUPHOKBIACE^E. 



corymbose racemes at the ends of the last year's branches, unfolding with 

 the leaves in April and May. The twigs and young branches have a 

 smooth yellowish-green bark, while that of the trunk is grayish and 

 deeply furrowed. 



Habitat. — From Canada to Florida ; common. 



Parts Used. — The bark of the root — official name, Sassafras ; the pith 

 of the young branches — official name, Sassafras medulla — United States 

 Pharmacopoeia. 



Constituents. — Of the bark of the root, an aromatic volatile oil and the 

 common constituents of plants. Of the pith, gummy matter, which is 

 readily imparted to water, forming a limpid mucilage. 



Preparations.— Of the bark of the root : Oleum sassafras — oil of sassa- 

 fras. Of the pith : Mucilago sassafras medulla3 — mucilage of sassafras 

 pith. — United States Pharmacopoeia. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Sassafras is an aromatic stimulant. Its 

 chief use is, however, in the form of the oil, as a flavoring agent. Muci- 

 lage of sassafras pith is used as a demulcent in acute febrile and inflam- 

 matory affections. 



LINDERA. — Spice-Bush. 



Lindera Benzoin Meisner — Spice-Bush, Wild Allspice, Fever-Bush. 



Description. — Flowers polygamous-dioecious. Calyx 6-parted, spread- 

 ing. Sterile flowers with 9 stamens in 3 rows, the inner row bearing- 

 glands at the base ; anthers 2-celled, 2-valved. Fertile flowers with 15 to 

 18 rudimentary stamens ; ovary globular. Fruit a red, obovoid drupe. 



A shrub 6 to 15 feet high. Leaves oblong-obovate, entire, smooth. 

 Flowers yellow, in nearly sessile clusters, each of 4 to 6 flowers, appearing 

 in March or April before the leaves. 



Habitat. — In damp woods and copses ; common. 



Parts Used.---The bark and fruit — not official. 



Constituents. — A volatile oil, and common vegetable principles. 



Preparations. — The oil possesses all the medicinal virtues of the plant. 

 A decoction of the bark or fruit is most commonly employed. 



Medical Properties. — The bark of the spice-bush has a warm spicy taste, 

 and in sufficient doses acts as a vascular stimulant. It has been employed 

 to produce diaphoresis in acute inflammatory and febrile affections. The 

 fruit has been employed as a substitute for allspice, and, medicinally, for 

 the same purposes as the bark. The aroma of the plant is less pleasant 

 than that of sassafras. 



EUPHORBIACE/E. 



Character of the Order. — Plants with opposite or alternate, often stipu- 

 late leaves, commonly an acrid milky juice, and monoecious or dioecious, 

 apetalous, sometimes naked flowers. Perianth, when present, lobed, and 



