ALETRIS STAR-GRASS. 269 



the shape of a triangular, greenish-yellow, spotted body, corresponding 

 with the fertile stamen of other orchids, and covering the summit of the 

 style ; stigma terminal, broad, obscurely 3-lobed, moist, not viscid. 



A perennial, 1 to 2 feet high, with a horizontal rhizome, tufted 

 fibrous rootlets, and strongly ribbed, slightly pubescent leaves ; stem also 

 pubescent, 1- to 2-flowered. 



Another species, C. parviflorum, Salisbury, is very similar, if not iden- 

 tical with this ; at least it is extremely difficult to distinguish one from 

 the other. 



Habitat. — In bogs, swamps, and low woods ; sometimes in mountain 

 woods. Widely distributed, and, in some regions, common. The vary- 

 ing conditions under which it will flourish are rather remarkable. The 

 author, while seeking plants to illustrate this work, found it in a dry situ- 

 ation on the Orange Mountains, N. J., and again in Western New York, 

 in a deep, and almost impassible swamp, where it grew upon moss-covered 

 logs, surrounded by water. 



Paiis Used. — The rhizome and rootlets of C. pubescens and C. parvi- 

 florum — United States Pharmacopeia. 



Constituents. — A minute quantity of volatile oil, volatile acid, resin, 

 and common vegetable principles. 



Preparations. — Extractum cypripedii fluidum — fluid extract of Cy- 

 pripedium. — United States Pharmacopoeia. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Cypripedium is a mild nervous stimu- 

 lant and anti-spasmodic, acting somewhat like valerian, but less efficiently. 

 Its use is almost entirely restricted to hysterical affections, though it is 

 said to have been employed successfully in epilepsy, neuralgia, and other 

 nervous diseases. 



H/EMODORACE/E. 



Character of the Order. — Perennial herbs with fibrous roots, ensiform, 

 equitant leaves, and bearing woolly hairs or scurf on their stems and flow- 

 ers. Perianth 6-cleft at the summit, cohering with the whole surface, or 

 with the base only of the ovary. Stamens 3 to 6, inserted at the base of 

 the lobes of the perianth. Ovary 3-celled ; style single, often 3-cleft. 

 Pod crowned or enclosed by the persistent perianth, 3-celled, 3- to many- 

 seeded. 



A small order of mainly unimportant plants. 



ALETRIS. —Star-Grass. 



Aletris farinosa Linne. — Star-Grass, Colic-Boot. 



Description. — Perianth oblong-tubular, 6-cleft, not woolly, but wrinkled 

 and roughened, cohering with the base of the ovary, white. Stamens 6. 



