POLYGONATUM — SOLOMON'S SEAL. 275 



linear, spreading, white, withering-persistent sepals. Stamens longer than 

 the sepals ; anthers yellow. Pistillate flowers with rudimentary stamens ; 

 styles 3, revolute. Pod ovoid-oblong, membranaceous, 3-valved, many- 

 seeded. 



An herbaceous perennial. Stem simple, wand-like, 1J to 2 feet high, 

 from a short, thick rootstock with numerous fibrous rootlets. Leaves flat, 

 lanceolate, the lowest spatulate, tapering into a petiole. Flowers in a ter- 

 minal spicate raceme, 4 to 9 inches long, appearing in June. 



Habitat. — In low grounds from New England to Illinois and southward. 



Parts Used. — The rhizome and rootlets — not official. 



Constituents. — A bitter neutral principle, termed chamcelirin, and com- 

 mon vegetable constituents. 



Preparations. — Commonly used in infusion or tincture. An impure 

 resinous substance, termed helonin, is considerably employed by eclectics. 

 It is prepared by precipitation from the alcoholic tincture. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Blazing-star is said to be tonic and an- 

 thelmintic ; it is probably little more than a simple bitter. 



CONVALLARIA.— Lily of the Valley. 



Convallaria majalis Linn e. — Lily of the Valley. 



Description. — Perianth bell-shaped, 6-lobed, white, deciduous. Stamens 

 G, shorter than the perianth and inserted on its base. Ovary 3-celled ; 

 style simple, stout ; stigma triangular. Fruit a red, few-seeded berry. 



A low, stemless perennial, with slender, running rootstocks, and fibrous 

 rootlets. Leaves two, oblong, their long petioles rolled one within the 

 other. Scape somewhat angular, having a one-sided raceme of beautiful, 

 fragrant flowers, which appear in May. 



Habitat. — On high mountains from Virginia southward ; specifically 

 identical with the common flower of gardens of the same name which was 

 introduced from Europe. 



Parts Used. — The rhizome and rootlets — not official. 



Constituents. — Two glucosides, termed convallarin and convallamarin, 

 besides the common constituents of plants. 



Preparations. — It is commonly employed in the form of fluid extract. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Convallaria has been recently reintro- 

 duced as a remedy, and is being considerably experimented with as a 

 cardiac tonic. In action it somewhat resembles digitalis. Its sphere of 

 usefulness is not, as yet, accurately defined. 



POLYGON ATUM. — Solomon's Seal. 



Character of the Genus. — Perianth cylindrical, G-lobed at the margin. 

 Stamens G, inserted about the middle of the tube of the perianth, included. 

 Ovary 3-celled, each cell 2- to G-ovuled ; style slender, jointed : stigma ob- 

 scurely 3-lobed. Fruit a globular, black or blue, 3- to G-secded benw. 



