Introduction and Background

Plate |.—(Frontispiece.) Podophyllum peltatum. Fig. 1.—Flowering stem and rhizome, natural size. Fro, 2.—Pistil and stamen, natural size. Fie. 8.—Fruit, half grown. DECEMBAK A MANUAL MEDICAL BOTANY OF NORTH AMERICA aY LAURENCE JOHNSON, A.M., M.D., ‘LEOTURER OW MEDICAL BOTANY, MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE CITY OF KEW ‘YORK ; FELLOW OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, AND OF THE KEW YORK ACAD- MACY OF SCIENCES: MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE OF REVISION OF THE PHARMAOOPGIA (OF THE UNITED STATES, MEMBER OF THE TORREY, BOTANICAL OLUB, ETO, NEW YORK WILLIAM WOOD & COMPANY 56 & 58 Laraverre Piace 1884 a Corraronr, 1884, Br WILLIAM WOOD & OOMPANY PREFACE. For many years medical botany has had no place in most Ameri- can medical schools; and no text-book on the subject has issued from the American press during a generation. As a result of this neglect, I believe that vegetable materia medica is taught at a great disadvantage, and often imperfectly. Plants bear relations to each other no less definite than those of the chemical com- pounds of inorganic substances ; and a knowledge of these relations should, in my opinion, precede all attempts at classification of plants as therapentic agents. Furthermore, much of the credulity evinced regarding so-called new remedies of vegetable origin is directly traceable to ignorance of plants in general, and of their relations to each other. Let the most extravagant assertions be made concerning the therapeutic activity of any hitherto unused plant—or of one used and long-forgotten—and ex- perimenters immediately busy themselves with it, no matter if other closely allied species are known to be inert. And yet, the different species of a genus are so closely related that when one is demonstrably useless, as a rule, we need not expect much from the others. As a teacher of medical botany I have been much embarrassed by the want of a text-book suited to the needs of American students—one combining a brief sketch of general botany with descriptions of medi- cinal plante—and, in this volume, have endeavored to supply that want. In the first part, or Elements of Botany, I have sketched the life- history of plants from germination to reproduction, explaining the technical terms commonly employed in botanical descriptions and the plan of classification in general use at the present day. iv PREFACE, “In the second part, or Medicinal Plants of North America, I have presented a systematic arrangement and description of most of the medicinal species, both indigenous and naturalized, which grow upon this continent. I have not, however, endeavored to make the list complete, but rather to exercise a judicious discrimination in selecting the most important. Very many species have been noticed merely to condemn them ; still these often serve a useful purpose as examples of orders or genera. Under the title, Character of the Order, are given the prominent and characteristic features of the order as a whole; and under the title, Character of the Genus, the distinguishing characteristics of the genus. In case only a single species of a genus is described, the char- acter of the latter is omitted. Following the Description of a species are its Habitat, or place of growth, the Part used medicinally, Constituents, Preparations, and a brief account of its Medical Properties and Uses. The words, United States Pharmacopeia, following the names of parts used, or of preparations, signify that such parts or preparations are official ; and official, throughout the work, signifies directed by the Pharmacopeeia, the only recognized authority. Everywhere brevity and conciseness have been aimed at, but no- where more than in the notes upon the medical properties and uses. Here I have paid little attention to traditions, except when I could trace them to a substantial foundation, believing that, in such matters, a judicious scepticism is wiser than blind credulity. In general, Ihave summarized the opinions of authors whom I consider most reliable, and have also drawn freely from the records of my own experience and observation. In the botanical part of the volume, I have followed no author ex- clusively. Among those whose works I have most frequently con- sulted are Baillon, Barton, Bentham, Bentley and Trimen, Bigelow, Chapman, Fignier, Gray, Griffith, Lindley, Michaux, Porcher, Pursh, Rafinesque, Torrey and Gray, and Woodville. I scarcely need add that I have had constant access to specimens, both recent and dried ; the latter either in my own herbarium or in that of Columbia College. The colored plates and a few of the illustrations on wood are from PREFAOE. Vv my own drawings and photographs; but for most of the wood-cuts I am indebted to Baillon (Histoire des Plantes), Figuier (Histoire des Plantes), and Woodville (Medical Botany). Those of Clematis Vir- giniana and Anemone patens, var. Nuttalliana, were kindly placed at my disposal by Professor J. U. and Mr. C. G. Lloyd (Drugs and Medicines of North America, now in course of publication). To my friend Dr. N. L. Britton, of Columbia College, I am much indebted for valuable suggestions, and for affording me every assist- ance required in consulting the extensive herbarium of that institution ; and to my friends Dr. Thomas F. Wood, Wilmington, N. C., and Dr. H. H. Rusby, Detroit, Mich., I extend my thanks for recent specimens required to illustrate the work. L. J. 823 Weer 27rH St., New YORE December, 1884. CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTION. .....0cseccsesseeeenees seaeeseeeteceerceeeeecsesees L GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF VEGETABLE GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION..... one 2 The Root, 4 ; Functions of Roots, 8 ; The Stem and Branches, 9; Functions of the Stem and Branches, 16; Buds and Leaves, 17; Functions of the Leaves, 24; The Flower, 25; Functions of the Flower, 88 ; The Fruit, 40 ; The Seed, 44; Classification of Plants, 48, Guossary oR DicTIONARY OF BOTANICAL TERMS... MEDICINAL PLANTS OF NORTH AMERICA. PHZNOGAMOUS OR FLOWERING PLANTS. CLASS I.—DICOTYLEDONOUS OB EXOGENOUS PLANTS. Drvision I.—PoLyPETALous ExoGENous PLANTS. RANUNCULACER. 4.005 ce eeee ene eee seen tee enae eee neeneeene seteevceeerees OF Clematis—Virgin’s-Bower, 58 ; Anemone—Wind-Flower, 59 ; Hepatica—Liv- erwort, 61; Ranunculus—Crowfoot, Buttercup, 61; Coptis, 64; Hydras- tis, 64; Xanthorhiza, 66 ; Actwa—Baneberry, 69. MAGRNOLIACEZ. .. set eeeeeseneseesereteteeeseserseeseese Th Magnolia, 71 ; Liriodendron, 78. ‘MENISPERMACEZ, te cents neeeeeetseerereerereees 15 Menispermam_—Moonseed, 75, BERBERIDACER........ sone eeneees Berberis—Barberry, 76 ; Caulophyllum—-Blae Cohosh, 78 ; Jeffersonis_-Twin- Leaf, 79 ; Podophyllum—May-Apple, 80. Newenzacez........ sees Nymphea—Water-Lily, 88. SARRACENIACEM.......-.. PorereeeCt eter ree erect ere rer rer irs Sarracenia—Pitcher-Plant, 84. DAPAVERACER 05 os sccdsie cine reeeieaeiss . Sanguinaria—Bloodroot, 88 ; Chelidontum —Celandine, 88. viii CONTENTS. PAGE FUMARIACEZ . eee eee eseeeeseoeee seseeceseccseseseees 89 Dicentra, 89 ; Fumaria—Fumitory, 90. CRUCIFERA....... aunts eee’ sie 92 Nasturtium, 98 ; Brassica—Sinapis, 05 ; Capeeila, 06, VIOLACEA. oe eee eee ee seen eee set teeeneenee 97 Viola—Violet, 98. CIsTACEZ. 9 Helianthemum—Rock Rose, 100. DROSERACEZ ......... « Drosera—Sundew, 101. HYPERICACEZ.. st teeseeereeteeseeeesesenes Hyporicum—St. John's Wort, 102. CARYOPHYLLACES..... Saponaria—Soapwort, 108 ; Silene—Catch Fly, MALVACEx . - 104 Linacea . . ~ 108 Linum—Flaz, 109. GERANIACER, 110 Geranium, 11 Ruracez. 1s ANACARDIACER wee 7 Rhus—Sumac, 117. RHAMNACES . nba teeeeeeeeseeeees Bhannas—Buokthorn, 1 CELASTRACE®.. Colastrus—Sta Tree, 124; " Rnonymos—Spindle Tree, 125. Cesnothu: —New Jersey Tea, 123. #sculus—Horse-Chestnut, Buckeye, 128. POLYCALACE Polygala—Milkwort, 128. LEouMINosz. ‘ Papllionsces, 180; Melilotus—Melilot, 180 ; Psorales, 191; Robinin—Looust Troe, 182; Tephrosia—Houry Pea, 183; Baptisia—Falso Indigo, 198; Cassia—Senna, 134. Bosace# . . » 185 Amygdal 5; Prunus—Plum and Cherry, 185; Rosacew, 187; Spirea— Meadow-Sweet, 187; Gillenia—Indian Physic, 138; Agrimonia—Agri- mony, 189; Geum—Avens, 140; Potentilla—Cinque-Foil, 140 ; Rubus— Bramble, 141. SAXIFRAGACEA . Hydrangem, 143; Hydrangea, 148; Saxifragew, 144; Houchera—Alum-Root, 144. HAMAMELACEZ .. Hamamelis—Witch-Hazel, 145; Liquidambar_Sweet Gum Tree, 146. . 148 « 144 CONTENTS. 1x ONAGRACEA . 7 Bpilobium Willow Herb, 148; @uothera—Evening Primrose, 148, UMBELLIFERE . stienmeicenwanee Sanicnla—Sanicle, 150; Eryngium—Eryngo, 150 ; Daucus—Carrot, 181; He- racleam—Cow-Paranip, 152; Archangelica, 158; Ciouta—Water-Hemlock, 518 ; Conium—Poison Hemlock, 154. 155 158 Cornus—Cornel, Dogwood, 158. Drvision IJ.—MonopeTaLous ExoGENovus PLANTS. CAPRIFOLIACE . . Diervilla—Bush-Honeysuckle, 162 ; Triosteum—-Feverwort, 162 ; Sambuons— Elder, 163; Viburnum—Arrow-wood, 163. RUBIACEZ. | Galinm—Bedstraw, Cleavers, 16 ella—Partridge-Berry, 168. CoMPOSIT# ..... se eeeeees . Liatris—Button Snakeroot, 170 ; {Eupatoriam—Thorough wort, im ‘Tussilago— Coltsfoot, 173 ; Erigeron—Fleabane, 174; Solidago—Golden-Rod, 175; Grindelia, 176 ; Inula—Elecampane, 177; Ambrosia— Rag-Weed, 178; Helianthus—Sunflower, 179 ; Helenia—Sneeze-Weed, 180; Maruta—May- Weed, 180; Anthemis—Chamomile, 181 ; ‘Achillea—Yarrow, 181; Tan- acetum—Tansy, 182; Artemisia—Wormwood, 183; Gnaphslium—Cud- Weed, 183; Erechthites—Fire-Weed, 184; Senecio—Groundsel, 184; Lappa—Burdock, 185; Cichorium—Chicory, 186; Hieracium—Hawk- Weed, 187; Nabalus—Rattlesnake-Root, 187; Taraxacum—Dandelion, 188. LoBELIACEz.,. Lobelia, 189. ERICACEA. . . . ‘Vaccinies—Ericinem—-Pyrolew—-Monotroper, 190; Sub-order ‘Bricinew, 191 ; Arctostaphylos—Bearberry, 191; Epigea—Trailing Arbutus, 192 ; Gaul- theria—Aromatio Wintergreen, 192; Andromeda, 193; Oxydendron— Sorrel Tree, 194; Kalmia—American Laurel, 194; Ledum—Labrador Tea, 196 ; Chimaphila—Pipsissewa, 197. + Cephalanthus—Button- Bush, 168 ; Mitch- Nex—Holly, 198. Diospyros—Persimmon, 199, PLUMBAGINACES...... = Btatice—Marsh-Rosemary, 200. BIGNONIACEA. . : Bignonia, 201 ; Catalpa, 201. é QROBANCHACER. 00.00... e eee ee eet ee ete e eens ee ee nent cena er eee es eens ++ 208 Epiphegns—Beech-Drops, 202 ; ConopholisCancer-Root, 208; Aphylion— ‘Naked Broom-Rape. x . CONTENTS. Page ScROPHULARIACE. . Verbascum—Mullein, 204; Scrophularia-—Figwort, 205; Chelone—Tartle- Head, 205 ; Veronica—Speedwell, 205. LABIATA. . seeeseccserecarees DOT Toucrium—Germander, 207; Mentha—Mint, 207; Lycopus—Water Hore- hound, 209; Cunila—Dittany, 210; Pycnanthemum—Mountain Mint, 210 ; Hedeoma—Mock Pennyroyal, 211 ; Collinsonia—Horse-Balm, 211 ; Monarda—Horse-Mint, 212 ; Nepeta—Catmint, 212 ; Scutellaria—Skull- cap, 218; Marrubium—Horehound, 214 ; Leonurus—Motherwort, 215. COONVOLVOLACEE.. Ipomos, 215. SOLANACES . os Solanum —Nightahade, 216; Physalis—Ground Cherry, 817; Hyoseyamus— Henbane, 218 ; Datura, 219. GENTIANACEE . oo .e sees eee eee Aabbatin—Ameriean Contanry, 22 tiana Gentian, 222; Menyanthes—Buckbean, 223. LOGANIACEA.. see seeee Golsemine—Yellow Jemamine, 994; Spigelia - Pinkroot, 227. APOCYNACEE ... ASCLEPIADACE..... Asclepias—Milkweed, 230. OLEACE.... ...... Fraxinus Ash, 231. Division Ill.—APETALous ExoGENoUs PLANTS. ARISTOLOCHIACEA......... atone Asarom—Wild Ginger, 282; Aristolochi _Birthwort, 238. PHYTOLACCACEA ...... eeeeseees . Phytolacea—Pokeweed, 284. (CHENOPODIACE Chenopodinm —Goosefoot, Pigweed, 235. POLYGONACEA . waning Polygonium—Knotweed, 286 ; Rumex— LAURACE.. ‘Sassafras, ‘989; Lindera—Spice Bush, 240. EUPHORBIACE Enuphorbia—Spurge, 241; Stillingia, 23 URTICACER . Ulmus—Elm, 248 ‘Morus—-Mulborry, 244; Untica Nettle, “od Cannabis— Hemp, 245 ; Humulus—Hop, 246. JUGLANDACEA ...... Tuglans—Walnut, 248. wees 236 + 240 Querous—Oak, 24! ‘astanea—Chestnut, 250. MYRICACEA....... . ++ Myrica—Bayberry, 250; Comptonia "Sweet-Fern, 252. CONTENTS. xi race BETULACER.......00seeeeeeeeeee tt eeeeneeeneeeseeeene eeeeeeeeeees BOB Betula—Birch, 252 ; Alnus—Ald SALICACER .....00.-00-+ weeeee Salix—Willow, 258 ; Populus—Poplar, 254. » 255 Abiotinow, 256; Pinus —Pine, 256; Abies—Sprace, 257; Larix—Larch, 250 ; Cupressinew, 260; Thuja—Arbor Vite, 260; Juniperus—Juniper, 261 ; Taxus—Yew, 262. CLASS Il.—MONOCOTYLEDONOUS OR ENDOGENOUS PLANTS. ARACEZ...... Arisema—Indian Turnip, —Sweet Flag, 264. ALIEMACE Alisma—Water Plantain, 265 ORcHIDACEE .. Corallorhiza—Coral-Root, HLEMODORACES ........000 006 Aletris—Star-Grass, 269. Inmacee Iris—Blue Flag, 270, LILIACEe.. eee reer ‘Trillium —Three- leaved Nightshade, 272; Veratrum —False Hellebore, 273 Chamelirium—Devil’s Bit, 274; Convallaria—Lily of the Valley, 275; Polygonatum—Solomon’s Seal, 275; Erythronium—Dog’s-Tooth Violet, 276. CRYPTOGAMOUS OR FLOWERLESS PLANTS. Fruices—FERns........... : ‘ Polypodium—Polypody, 277; Adiantum—Maidonhair, 277; Ptorls—Brake, 278; Asplenium—Spleenwort, 278 ; Scolopendrium—Hart’s-Tongue, 279 ; Aspidium—Shield-Fern, 279; Osmunda—Flowering Fern, 280." LYCOPODIACER Lycopodium—Club-Moss, 288. ++ 288 ELEMENTS OF BOTANY. INTRODUCTION. . Borany is the science which treats of the vegetable kingdom, A science so comprehensive, including everything which relates to plants, from the life history of those low organisms on the border line between the animal and the vegetable world to that of the giant oak which endures for centuries, must of necessity be divided for the convenience of students. Accordingly general botany comprises many well-recognized departments, one of which, devoted to the history of medicinal plants, is known as MEDICAL BOTANY. But medical botany is also a comprehensive science, for the list of plants possessing greater or less medicinal activity is long, and the planta are, in many instances, so remote and inaccessible that their study is beset with many difficulties, The obstacles, however, in the way of the student who would acquire a knowledge of the medicinal plants of his own country are neither numerous nor formidable. Especially is this true of the medical botany of North America ; for though this continent, with ita broad extent of territory, varied surface, and extremes of temperature, sup- ports an extensive and interesting flora, the number of medicinal species is surprisingly small, and these are so distributed as to be generally accessible. The medical botany of North America, then, treats of all plants grow- ing on the continent without cultivation which possess, or are supposed to possess, medicinal activity. It treats of them as living, organized bodies, classifying them according to their structural affinities, and not as they are treated of in the Materia Medica, as mere drugs, arranged ac- cording to their real or supposed therapeutic effects. It will be seen, however, that this classification of plants according to their structural affinities may often afford valuable hints as to the thera- peutic properties of allied species. As the comparative anatomist and physiologist, knowing the structure and habits of a single animal of a family, may deduce the habits of an allied species whose structure only is known, so may the medical botanist, knowing the physiological or thera- peutic effect of a single species of a genus, draw a reasonable inference re- garding the properties of an allied species in advance of experimentation. 2 ELEMENTS OF BOTANY. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF VEGETABLE GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION. A knowledge of the general principles of vegetable life may be acquired by carefully studying the history of any plant, however humble, from the germination of¢its seed upward through the various stages of its develop- ment to the formation and perfection of its fruit. Take, as a familiar and often-used illustration, a common garden bean (Fig. 1). This seed, we know, is capable, under favorable circumstances, ) Fro. 1. Fio. % Fro. 8, Fro. 4, Fro, 1.—A bean, F10, 2,—The same, with seed-coat removed. Fro. 8.—The same, with one sood-leat re- moved, showing embryo leaves, Fra, 4.—A bean after germination. of developing into a plant like its parent, though its external appearance affords no hint of such hidden possibilities. Externally it is covered by a coating of horny hardness, everywhere smooth and glistening save at one point on its slightly concave side, where it was attached to the pod in which it grew. This point of former attachment is marked by a scar, termed the hilum, and, as will be shown later, is strictly analogous to the umbilical scar of animals. Removing now this external coating, the seed is seen to comprise two similar, symmetrical parts, joined by a small body of like texture, which is folded down along their line of apposition (Fig. 2). A more minute mi- croscropical and chemical examination would demonstrate other features of interest, but foreign to our present purpose. Protected from moisture a bean may be preserved for years without change, and giving no sign of vitality, but planted in damp earth it speed- ily undergoes changes which are interesting and instructive. As it absorbs moisture the external coating is ruptured, the two parts of the seed sepa- rate along their margins, and the small body joining them elongates (Fig. 4). Moreover, this elongation is always in a downward direction, whatever may be the position of the seed in the ground. There is, how- ever, growth upward at the same time, and soon the seed appears above VEGETABLE GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION. 3 ground, its two parts diverging and exhibiting between them a bud, which develops a pair of green leaves with an intervening bud (Fig. 5). This bud develops other leaves, and so on, the further upward growth of the plant being but a repetition of the process. In the axils of the leaves buds are also developed, and these grow in a manner similar to that of the main stem, so that the plant assumes a more or less symmetrical spread- ing appearance. Returning now to that portion of the seed which elongates downward, we observe that it branches rapidly as it grows, but in ‘Fro, 5.—A bean with ita first pair of true leaves, bearing the seed-leaves above ground. Fro. 6. Fra. 7. Fro. 8. Fro. % Fra. 6—A kernel of Indian corn, showing the embryo. Fa. 7.—The same, reverse side Fro. &—The same after germination. io, 9.—Indian corn with its first leaves, an irregular, unsymmetrical manner, differing widely in this respect from the ascending portion, whose branches are axillary and regular. We note also the absence of buds and green color. The downward growth of the plant keeps pace, to a certain extent, with its upward development. Apart from the physiological functions of the roots, the mechanical support which they yield to the stem requires that their development should be proportionate to its growth. Taking a kernel of Indian corn as another example, we shall find that 4 ELEMENTS OF BOTANY. it too has an external coating similar to that of the bean. Removing this, the seed is found composed of a single body, marked on one side by a longitudinal elevation (Fig. 6), instead of two similar parts as in the bean. Buried in the earth, a kernel of corn absorbs moisture, the little elevation on its side begins to elongate in an upward and downward direction (Fig. 8), one extremity producing a cluster of roots, the other leaves (Fig. 9), the seed itself remaining in the ground, and not borne above it as in the case of the bean. Without tracing the history of these plants further, enough has been shown to demonstrate that a seed is an embryo plant, as fully fitted for an independent existence when placed under proper circumstances: as is the infant mammal when it issues from ita mother’s womb. The requisite circumstances are in the one case, first of all, air to breathe, in the other, moisture and seclusion from light. Having seen how a plant starts on its course of development from the seed, we will now proceed to study the organs by means of which its various functions are performed. THE ROOT. The root of a plant is its descending axis. In the vast majority of in- stances it fixes