1849.] Bigelow on the Medical Botany of Ohio. 33 



tringent, restringent, pectoral, tonic, anti-septic, alterative," 

 &c— (Med. Flor. 2d. 102.) Lindley says that De Candolle 

 accounts the roots violently emetic, [Nat. Syst. Bot. 276.] while 

 Riddell affirms, that Dr. Beach regards them as astringent, 

 pectoral, tonic, anti-septic and alterative. It is evident that 

 Beach has borrowed from Rafinesque all he knows of them. 

 They deserve a proper investigation at our hands. 



Order LIX.— LILIACEiE. {Lily Family.) 



Sub-order I.— ASPHODELLE. {Asphodel Tribe.) 



Sp. 174. Scilla esculenta. Ker. Syn. Phalangium Esculentum. Nutt, 



Com. names — Eastern Quamash, Wild Hyacinth. Scape, 

 1° — 12 high; leaves, long linear keeled; sepals spreading, 

 pale-blue, 3-nerved. May. 



Onion sweet. Famous as an article of diet among the 

 western Indians. Rafinesque says it makes a fine bread, 

 tasting like pumpkin bread. Makes a fine emollient poultice 

 for inflamed breasts —[Med. Flor. Vol. 2d. 255.] 



Sp. 175. Allium tricoccum. Ait. 



Com. name — Wild Leeks, Ramps. Scape, naked, 9' high; 

 leaves in early Spring, decaying before flowering; sepals, 

 white. — July. 



We have two or three other species, which may probably 

 be used as substitutes for the officinals. 



Order LX.— MELANTHACEtE. {Colchicum Family.) 



Sub-order I. — UVULARLE. {Bell-wort Family.) 



Sp. 176. Uvularia perfoliata. Linn. 



Com. name — Smaller Bell-wort. Stems from small peren- 

 nial, root stalks; flowers pale yellow, nodding lily like. — May, 

 June. 



Root, sub-acrid when fresh, with fine mucilage. Decoction 

 of the plant useful in sore mouth, inflamed larynx and gums. 

 Said to cure the bites of Rattlesnakes. — [Rafinesque, Med. 

 Flor. 2d. 272.] 



Sub-order II.— MEL ANTHIE^E. (True Colchicum Family.) 



I have ventured to put down all our western plants of this 

 Family, as they are according to Lindley, acrid and poisonous 

 in every species. — [Nat. Syst. Bot. 270.] It is very probable, 

 also, that the active principle upon which Colchicum depends 

 for its virtues, resides in some of them. For these reasons I 

 think they deserve the special attention of our Faculty. 

 3 



