REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 



131 



on the liver. It has an established place in the materia medica of this 

 country, and is employed in the treatment of many diseases. Plate X. 



Veratrum viride — American Hellebore; Indian PoTce-root. 



A coarse, herbaceous, perennial plant, growing from 2 to 4 feet high 

 in boggy meadows and in low grounds along the margins of brooks in 

 rocky and mountainous places throughout the Eastern United States. 

 The stem is stout, erect, and leafy. The lower leaves are from G to 12 

 inches long, broadly oval, pointed smoothish or pubescent, with nu- 

 merous nerves running nearly parallel from the base of the leaf to its 

 apex, the lower part or stalk of the leaf clasping around the stem and 

 with the edges growing together for an inch or two, so as to appear as 

 if the stem passed through the leaf base. The upper leaves become 

 gradually smaller and narrower, and at the base of the branches of the 

 panicle they pass into linear bracts. The upper part of the stem for a 

 foot or so constitutes the flowering panicle, with numerous alternate 

 branches, the lower ones longer and spreading so as to give this part a 

 pyramidal form. 



The branches and terminal part are occupied with numerous and 

 rather close sessile flowers. These flowers are not entirely perfect, 

 some being only male and others male and female. The flowers are lily- 

 like in structure, consisting of an envelope or perianth of six greenish, 

 pubescent, ovate acute, small sepals, each narrowed at the base; six 

 spreading stamens and three short recurved styles, terminating the ovary, 

 which, when matured, composes a three-celled dry capsule, containing 

 numerous small flattened seeds. The root of this plant, or more properly 

 the base of the stem, is thick and fleshy, with numerous coarse fibrous 

 branches or subdivisions. It has a sharp, biting, bitterish taste, and 

 contains a resinous juice, which may be dissolved in alcohol. The plant 

 is very similar to the white hellebore ( Veratrum album) of Europe, which 

 has long been employed medicinally in certain forms of rheumatism and 

 gout. The first settlers of this country found that the Indians were 

 acquainted with at least the emetic properties of our plant, and subse- 

 quent investigation led to the conclusion that it was as powerful in its 

 action as its European relative. It has a strong influence on the action 

 of the heart, and has been much employed as a sedative in fevers. It 

 is, however, a dangerous medicine if used in large doses or by persons of 

 weak constitutions, sometimes producing great depression, vomiting, and 

 even death. It is one of the plants growing abundantly in the mount- 

 ains of Carolina, and great quantities are annually gathered and pre- 

 pared for market. Plate XI. 



Frasera Caroliniensis — American Columbo. 



A tall, stout, biennial or triennial plant, growing in rich soil in open 

 woodlands or in moist meadows. The root is large, spindle-shaped, 

 fleshy, and of a yellow color. The second or third year the root sends 

 up a strong, succulent, smooth, furrowed stem, from 3 to 8 feet high. 

 The radical leaves (usually five to eight) are oblong or obovate, obtuse, 

 a foot or more in length, and 3 to 4 inches broad, spread flat on the 

 ground. The stem leaves are in whorls of four to eight, at intervals 

 of 4 to 6 inches. Those at the lower whorls are oblong or lanceolate, 

 entire, 6 to 8 inches long and 2 or 3 inches wide. They gradually be- 

 come smaller as they ascend, and near the top are lanceolate and but 

 2 or 3 inches long. The upper part of the stem bears flowers at each 

 of the joints, generally eight to ten at each joint, the lower ones on 



