File:American medical botany, being a collection of the native medicinal plants of the United States, containing their botanical history and chemical analysis, and properties and uses in medicine, diet and (14764291292).jpg

Identifier: americanmedicalb02bige (find matches)
Title: American medical botany, being a collection of the native medicinal plants of the United States, containing their botanical history and chemical analysis, and properties and uses in medicine, diet and the arts, with coloured engravings
Year: 1817 (1810s)
Authors: Bigelow, Jacob, 1786-1879
Subjects: Botany, Medical Botany
Publisher: Boston, Cummings and Hilliard
Contributing Library: NCSU Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: NCSU Libraries

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the natural size. Fig. 5. .Anther magnified, the dark places shelving the mode of opening.Fig. 6. Calyx and pistil.Fig. 7, Fruit. Fig. 8. Longitudinal section of the fruit.Fig. 9. Transverse section of the capsule. PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM. May Apple, PLATE XXIU, T HE Podophyllum peltatiim or May apple,otherwise called Mandrake in this country, in-habits low shadj situations from New England toGeoigia. On the Atlantic coast I have nevermet with it farther north than Boston, yet in theinterior of the country it has a more extensiverange. From its large creeping roots, it has agreat tendency to multiply, and is always foundin beds of greater or less extent. Its floweringtime is from IMarch to May. This plant is one of the Baimnculacem of Jus-sieu and Mhoeades of Linnjeus ; and is in the firstorder of the Class Polyandria. Its generic character consists in a calya? ofthree leaves; from siVi? to nine petals; and a one-cel-led berry croivned with the stigma. Only one spe- ri.j.riJi ■^f^^^ r*
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MAY APPLE. 35 cies is at present known which strictly hclongs tothe genus. The May apple has a jointed running rootabout half the size of the finger, hy which itspreads extensively in rich grounds, where it getsintroduced. The stem is about a foot in height, andinvested at its base by the sheaths which coveredit when in bud. It is smooth, round and erect,dividing at top into two round petioles from threeto six inches long. Each petiole supports a largepeltate, palmate leaf, smooth above, slightly pu-bescent beneath, deeply divided into about sevenlobes, which are wedge shaped, two parted andtoothed at the extremity. On the inside the leaf iscleft almost to the petiole. In barren stems whichsupport but one leaf this does not take place, andthe leaf is very perfectly peltate. In the fork ofthe stem is a solitary flower on a round noddingpeduncle one or two inches long. Calyx of threeoval, obtuse, concave leaves, cohering in the budby their scarious margins, and breaking off atbase when

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