204 
Floristik, Geographie, Systematik etc. 
Holm, Th., Medicinal plants of North America. 6. Erythvonium 
Americanum Ker. (Merck’s Report. XVI. p. 223—225. f. 1 — 12. 
Aug. 1907.) 
In describing the external and internal structure of this plant 
the author calls attention to the very peculiar position of the palisade- 
cells in the leaf, being horizontal, and vertical on the longitudinal 
axis of the blade, a structure which has, also, been observed in the 
European species and described by Schulze; it is, also, interesting 
to notice that neither the stem nor the leaf have any trace of collen- 
chyma or stereome. The species is stoloniferous, and the stolons 
become terminated by bulbs. Theo Holm. 
Holm, Th., Me die inal plants of North America. 7. Podophyllum 
peltatum L. (Merck’s Report. XVI. p. 250—252. f. 1 —12. Sept. 1907.) 
Describes the vegetative organs, and the following points are 
of a special interest. The roots increase very little in thickness, and 
only in the Stele; the rhizome shows an astelic structure, in contrast 
to the monostelic of the stem above ground. The larger veins of 
the leaf-blade contain three mestome-strands. In regard to the 
arrangement of the mestome-bundles in the stem, these constitute 
three almost concentric bands, instead of but one as in Caulophyllum 
and Jeffevsonia . Theo Holm. 
Holm, Th., Me die inal plants of North America. 8. Aristolochia 
Serpentaria L. (Merck’s Report. XVI. p. 276—279. f. 1 —15. Oct. 1907.) 
Among the populär names under which this plant is known 
may be mentioned: Snake-root, Snake-root-birthwort, Viperine, but 
there are several others.' The rhizome with the roots are the parts 
used. Serpentaria is a feeble stimulant tonic. Too largely taken it 
occasions nausea, pains in the bowels, sometimes vomiting and 
dysenteric tenesmus. It has been recommended in intermittent 
fevers, and ma}^ be serviceable as an adjunct to quinine. The root 
contains a volatile oil, and a yellow bitter principle, which Chevallier 
considers analogous to the bitter principle in Quassia. The germi- 
nation and the rhizomes of the mature plant is described, beside 
the anatomy. The roots increase but very little in thickness, and 
only in the Stele. The internodes of the stem have a distinct endo- 
dermis, and a stereomatic. pericycle of several layers, which surrounds 
ten collateral mestome-strands between which some strata of inter- 
fascicular cambium were observed; the node contains a large mass 
of very thickwalled collenchyma, while the stereomatic pericycle is 
much reduced. The leaves are dorsiventral, and the Stomata have 
no subsidiary cells; the palisade cells are short and broad, and 
frequently lobed, thus representing the so-called „Arm-palisades” of 
Haberlandt. Theo Holm. 
Holm, Th., Medicinal plants of North America. 9. Phytolacca 
decandra L. (Merck’s Report. XVI. p. 312—314. f. 1—16. Nov. 1907.) 
The leaves, fruits, and roots are used, but only the last is 
official in the U. S. Pharmacopoeia. The ashes of the stems and 
leaves contain a very large quantity of potash, yielding according 
to Braconnot, not less than 4.2% of the pure caustic alkali; in the 
plant the potash is neutralized by an acid which resembles malic 
