XVII. 2. THE FEVER ROOT. O00 
long and slender, and form a permanent crown to the ripened 
fruit; the tubular corolla is a little longer than the calyx, and 
somewhat unequal; and the berry is leathery and has three 
cells, and three or five, elliptic, bony seeds. 
THe Fever Roor. 7. perfoliatum. L. 
Figured in Bigelow’s Medical Botany, I, Plate 9. 
This is a hairy, coarse-looking plant, with upright, annual 
stems, from one to four feet high, proceeding from a large, 
hoirzontal, branched, perennial root. It is distinguished by its 
large, opposite leaves, the pairs crossing each other, and its 
brown, axillary, sessile blossoms, usually in clusters. 
It is found in shady places, in rich, moist ground. ‘The 
calyx is of five linear-lanceolate, sharp, brown segments, per- 
sistent upon the ovary. Ovary round, sessile, green, covered 
with brown, headed, glandular hairs, with a thread-like bract 
on each side. Corolla of a dull, brownish purple, swelling at 
base, contracted just above, expanding towards the border, 
which is divided into five rounded, incurved, unequal segments. 
Stamens five, attached to the lobe of the corolla, hairy, yel- 
lowish white, with brown anthers. Style as long as thie corolla; 
hairy, bearing a headed or shield-like stigma. Leaves two to 
six inches long and one to three broad, vpposite, connate, in 
pairs, crossing each other, broad ovate, lanceolate, acuminate, 
entire, contracted towards the base, as if the petiole were 
winged, rough, veined, often waving, somewhat hairy above, 
velvety, pubescent beneath. Stem rough, hollow throughout. 
It flowers in June, and its orange berries are ripe in September. 
The fever root has long had reputation for its medicinal vir- 
tues. The root, in the form of powder, or as an extract, has 
pretty regular effect as an emetic and cathartic. But, to be sure 
of its virtues, the practitioner must have it renewed every year, 
as it is thought to lose its efficacy from age. The stem and 
leaves seem to have much less active properties. ‘The whole 
plant is bitter, and. in small doses, has a tonic effect. 
