4 
Anemopsis  Californka, 
fAm.  Jour.  Phann;.. 
\       Jan.,  1880. 
various  salts,  and  probably  also  by  gelatin  and  other  substances.  In 
separating  from  the  imperfect  solution,  most  of  the  yellow  coloring 
matter  is  carried  down  with  it  ;  hence  the  gelatinous  precipitate,  after 
the  mother  liquor  has  been  drained  off,  acquires  a  deep  green-black 
color  on  the  addition  of  ferric  salt,  and  on  account  of  the  sparing  solu- 
bility of  the  gentisic  acid  in  water,  needs  copious  washing  with 
water  to  free  it  from  this  compound,  after  which  it  will  not  be  colored 
dark  by  the  same  reagent.  In  the  same  manner  may  also  be  explained 
the  result  of  Mr.  Ville's  experiment  with  hide,  and  possibly  the  behavior 
of  the  infusion  observed  by  Mr.  Davies  with  tartar  emetic  and  cin- 
chonia  salt. 
ANEMOPSIS  CALIFORNICA,  Hooker.— YERBA  MANSA. 
By  J.  U.  Lloyd. 
This  is  a  small  perennial  plant  growing  in  damp  situations  in  the 
southern  part  of  California  and  Northern  Mexico.  The  leaves  are 
mostly  radical,  smooth,  of  a  firm  texture,  and  borne  on  sheathing  peti- 
oles. The  stem  is  about  six  inches  high,  bearing  a  clasping  leaf  near 
the  middle,  and  terminating  in  a  spike  of  flowers.  The  flowers  are 
small,  apetalous,  cohering  into  a  thick  spadix,  which  is  surrounded  at 
the  base  by  about  six  petaloid  bracts,  giving  the  entire  inflorescence  the 
appearance  of  a  single  terminal  flower.  A  prominent  character  of  the 
plant  is  its  tendency  to  produce  stolons. 
In  1876  the  writer  received  a  specimen  of  the  plant  through  the 
kindness  of  Dr.  George,  of  California.  It  was  known  as  "  Terha 
Mansa''  in  his  neighborhood,  and  used  as  a  domestic  remedy.  This 
specimen  was  fresh,  and  upon  cultivation  grew  vigorously,  passing  the 
hard  winter  of  1878-79  with  impunity.  The  characteristics  of  the 
native  grown  plants  were  preserved,  but  while  there  was  a  rapid  increase 
in  the  number  of  plants  by  means  of  runners,  none  have  blossomed. 
The  plant,  which  belongs  to  the  order  Saururaceae,  was  noticed  in 
this  journal,  December,  1878,  p.  589,  by  Dr.  Edward  Palmer  in  his 
interesting  article  upon  "  Plants  used  by  the  Indians  of  the  United 
States,"  as  follows  : 
'^The  root  of  this  plant  is  a  great  remedy  among  the  Indians  of 
Arizona  and  Sonora,  in  Mexico  and  Southern  California.  It  has  a 
strong  peppery  taste  and  odor.    A  tea  made  from  the  roots  and  a  pow- 
