The American flora : or history of plants and wild flowers : containing their scientific and general description, natural history, chemical and medical properties, mode of culture, propagation , &c., designed as a book of reference for botanists, physicians, florists, gardeners, students, etc. . t; the leaves are soft, and of a light pea-green color;those from the bottom are on long- petioles, but those on the stem sitclose to their sheaths; the leaflets are from seven to ten in number,lanceolate, acuminate, sharply serrate, smooth, gashed, usually trifid,the divisions sometimes deeply lobed ;
The American flora : or history of plants and wild flowers : containing their scientific and general description, natural history, chemical and medical properties, mode of culture, propagation , &c., designed as a book of reference for botanists, physicians, florists, gardeners, students, etc. . t; the leaves are soft, and of a light pea-green color;those from the bottom are on long- petioles, but those on the stem sitclose to their sheaths; the leaflets are from seven to ten in number,lanceolate, acuminate, sharply serrate, smooth, gashed, usually trifid,the divisions sometimes deeply lobed ; and at the base of each pedun-cle is a similar leaf, only smaller ; the peduncles are axillary, an inchlong, round, supporting one and two nodding green flowers. It is saidto be a native of France, but is found in many parts of the UnitedStates. Large quantities of this plant I have found growing on thenorth side of Great Hills, (so called by the inhabitants.) in the townof Leverett, Franklin county, Mass. Medical Properties and Uses. Haller reckons up all the reputedvirtues of Hellebore under this species ; and indeed seems to be whatGerman practitioners have substituted for the tme plant of the ancients,HeUeborus oricntalis. We learn from the Flora Londinensis, that die Vol. IV.—152. NAT. ORDER. 153 roots of this plant are used in London for the true Black Hellebore ;and probably their qualities are the same, for this species is even morenearly allied to the ancient Greek plant Helleboms orientalis than theHellebonis nig-er. The whole herb is fretid, acrid, violendy cathartic,with a nauseous taste, especially when fresh. The leaves, whendried, are sometimes g-iven as a domestic medicine to destroy worms;but they must be used sparingly, being so violent in their operations,that many instances of their fatal effects are recorded. A dose ofabout fifteen grains of the powder of the dried leaves is given to chil-dren, which proves gently emetic and purgative. The
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectmedicinalplants, booksubjectplants
