American flora V1, Strong 1855

^^

f^y.

£Lr-i:X



,

THE

AMERICAN FLORA,
OB

HISTORY OF PLANTS AID ¥ILD ELO¥EES:
CONTAINIKO

THEIR SCIENTIFIC AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

NATURAL HISTORY,
CHEMICAL AND MEDICAL PROPERTIES, MODE OF CULTURE, PROPAGATION, &C.

AS A BOOK OF REFEP.EXCE FOR BOTANISTS, PUYSICIANS, FLORISTS, aARDENEES,
STUDENTS, ETC.

BY

A. B.

STRONO, M.

VOL.
IS

D.

I.

ILLUSTRATED WITH

SIXTY-SIX BEAUTIFUL COLORED ENGRAVINGS,
TAKEN FROM NATURE.
LIBRARY
«

NEW YORK
BOTANICAL

NEW-YORK:
PUBLISHED BY HULL
13

ANN

STREET.

1855.

^"^^"^^

& SPENCEB,


vN-

i^

•

Entered accorJing

to Act, of

'f

Cougiess, in the year 1S45,

by

GREEN i SPENCER,
In the Clerk's 0£5ce of

the District Court of the Southern District of

Xew York


^ B

PREFACE.
In the whole catalogue of the Materia Medica, the productions

of the animal and mineral kingdom
those of the vegetable.

some time

past, the

Though

it

bear a small

proportion

must be acknowledged

to

that, fur

medicinal uses of vegetable simples have been

less

regarded by physicians than they were formerly, which probably

may

be ascribed to the successive discoveries and improvements in

chemistry

ence

is

;

it

would, however, be

difficult to

show

that this prefer-

com

supported by any conclusive reasoning, drawn from a

more

parative superiority of chemicals over galenicals, or that the

general use of the former has actually led to a

more

successful

practice.

The

various

American works on Botany have given but very

limited portions of the vegetable

few medical practitioners have a
individual plants of

kingdom

;

yet limited as they are,

distinct botanical

which they are composed, though generally well

acquainted with their effects and medical uses.

who

is

knowledge of the

But the

practitioner

unable to distinguish those plants which he prescribes,

is

not

only subjected to the impositions of the ignorant and fraudulent, but

which the

must

feel

a

mind

will

be anxious to remove, and to such,

dissatisfaction

American Flora

will be found

inquisitive
it

and philosophic
is

presumed, the

an acceptable and useful work

;

the


PREFACE.

JV

profos.seil dcsi^r.

of

v.

Lull

tinguish with prccisiou

and

ical use,

to furnish

all

uol only to enable the reader to

is

those plants which are directed for med-

him

at the

detail of their respective virtues,

same time wiih a

child

may walk

circumstantial

and of the diseases in which they

have been most successfully employed by

A

dis-

into the field,

different authors.

and amuse himself with the

He

groups of flowers which there present themselves to his notice.

may be

able to distinguish

Rose and

the

and rich
rate
its

between the Tulip and the Snowdrop,

the Lili/, and be delighted with their external beauties

varieties; but

it

the liotanist alone,

is

knowledge of the various parts of the

then,

can expatiate on

men

of

must be obvious that those plants

in

a knowledge of Botany

science and general literature,

it

is

The Author
valuable plants,

nature

;

all

properties, ought

men.

has the satisfaction of introducing

many

rare

which have never been completely portrayed

preceding work whatever,

America,

necessary to

so

kingdom which possess medicinal

vegetable

certainly to attract the attention of medical

cal

accu-

wonderful formation.
If,

the

plant,

who by an

beautifully

embracing

colored,

all

and

the

their

and

in

Wild Flowers

any
of

drawings taken from

and by subjoining a botanical description, natural and medi-

liistory

of each species, curiosity

double interest

is

excited in the

is

mind of

more

fully giatified,

the student.

and a


INDEX.
LATIN NAMES.
Kletris farinosa

Aloe pcrfoliata
Aloe socotorina

Aloe vulgaris

Amygdalus communis
Anacardium occidentale

Anemone pralensis
Anthemis nobilis
Anthemis pyrethrum
Aquilegia canadensis

Arctium lappa
Atropa belladonna

Borago

officinalis

Camelia japonica

Capsicum annum
Cassia fistula
Celastrus scandens

Chelone glabra

Cichorium

intybiis

-

Cistus creiicus
Citrzis aurantitim

Colchicum autumnale

Convolvulus jalapa

Croton tiglium

Dianthus caryopkyllus
[hgitalis purpurea

Gtntiana pttrpurea

•

Oladiolus alatus

Habranthus roseus
ffetleborus niger

Hyacinthus orientalia

Hypericum perforatum
fnula helenium

-


INDEX.

LATIN NAMES.

INDEX.

iV

LATIN NAMES.

COMMON NAMES.
Common
Common

Lnngwort,
Mallote,

Marly nia, Horny

Common

Mulberry Tree,

Nighl-shade, Deadly
Niilmeg- Tree

Oak,

Common

Orange Tree
Orris, Florentine

Pasque floicer

Passion Jloicer
Pear, Chinese

Peony,

Common

Pepper, Guinea
Pink, Carolina
PiTik, Clove or Carnation

Pipsissewa

Poppy, Red

Com

or

Quassia, Bitter

-

Ra.'pherry Bush,

Common

•

Red

Raspberry,

Rododendrum, Yellow-Jlowerti
Rose,

Dog

or

Hep Tree

Rose, Hundred-leaved
Rose, Japan

Rush

Daffodil, Three-anthered

tSttffron,

Meadow

SSavine,

Common

ScuVcap, Blue
Sorrel,

Wood

Spear-mint
Star Grass

•

-

-

.

Wort
Wild or Blue
Sumach, Upland
iS».

John's-

Sticcory,

Tulip, Scarlet
W
Panidtd

•

V/"

/ / /

^4^


NAT. ORDER.
Lenticosce.

HUNDRED-LEAVED ROSE.

ROSA CENTIFOLIA.

Polygnia.

Class XII.

IcosANDRiA.

Order

G(in. Char.

Petals

Calijx pitcher-shaped, five-cleft, fleshy, and

five.

V.

Seeds numerous, hispid, and affixed to

contracted at the neck.

the under side of the calyx.

Germen

Char.

Spe.

prickly.

Peduncles

ovate.

hispid.

Stem

hispid and

Petioles unarmed.

Various opinions are entertained with respect to the native place

of this species of rose, and
mined.
flower,

It is cultivated

in

it

is

a point

which

stiU remains undeter-

gardens very extensively, as an ornamental

and grows luxuriantly

in

most parts of the United

States,

and

throughout the continent of Europe, flowering in June.

six

The Rosa CentifoUa
The
in height.

feet

has prickly stalkg, which are from three to
leaves are pinnated, consisting of

three pairs of leaflets, with an odd one
serrated, veined, hairy, and attached

common

footstalk

;

;

two or

the leaflets are oval, broad,

by very

short petioles to a rough

the floiocrs are large, varying in color, generally of

a pale red, and supported on peduncles which are beset with bristly
hairs

;

the leaves of the calyx are semi-pinnate

;

the petals are large

and numerous; the parts oi fructification are by cultivation converted
into petals.

There are many

varieties

comprehended under

this

species of

rose, which are indiscriminately gathered for medicinal purposes, and

are found

by chemical

analysis not to differ essentiallj from

each


NAT. ORDER.

8

—LENTIGOS^.

was formerly regarded as the Damask Rose, until by
investigation it was foimd to be a perfectly distinct species.
It

Other.

close

This division comprises the portion which has most particularly
interested the lovers of flowers.

which there are any records
but to which
portion of it
;

Mount Pangceus

probable that the earliest of

It is

as being cultivated, belonged to
particular species those

are to be referred,

is

now

some

of Cpene

or

The

too late to enquire.

which is an important article in commerce, is
obtained from them indiscriminately, as in the manufactory at Florence, conducted by a convent of friars, or from some particular kind, as
It appears, from specimens brought from Chizapore, by Colin India.
either

ottar of roses,

onel Hardwicke, that Rosa

obtaining the essential

Koempfer

calls

Rosa

oil.

It

folia.

from

Shirazeiisis,

in preference to others
is,

Damascena
The Persians

;

is

its

It

of a sort

which

growing about Schu-az,

may be Rosa Damascena, or Rosa ccntiknown that ottar of roses from different

countries, is of various degrees of goodness

usually the best.

make use

this

however, well

is

there exclusively used for

also

;

that from

Turkey being

therefore probable tliat Rosa nwschata

may

be sometimes used either alone or mixed with other kinds, especially
at Mogodor, where considerable quantities are procured, but of infeTo three or four species herein enumerated, nearly all
rior quality.
the fine double roses of the gardens are referable.

Rosa Damascena.

two

This

to three feet in height

sepals,

reflexed

single or double.

Rosa

;

fruit

;

is

a shrubby looking

plant, rising from

pricldes unequal, larger ones falcate

elongated

The present

;

;

flowers large and white, or red,

species

may be

cMstinguished from the

centifolia, in the greater size of the prickles, green bark, elon-

and long reflexed sepals. The petals of this species, and
all the varieties of Rosa centifolia, as well as all those of other species,
are employed indiscriminately for the purpose of making rose-water.
Native of Syria, and flowers in June and July.
^
P-opagation and Culture. The rose may be increa^^d by seed for

gated

fruit,


LENTIGOS^.

NAT. ORDER.

new varieties, and chiefly by layers for continuing approved sorts.
are also increased

by budding,

and

cuttings

Tlicy

Extracting tbe

suckers.

stamens from one flower, and dusting the stigmas with the pollen of

The

another kind, will sometimes answer a most admirable pm"pose.

October or November, and the seed does not

tips generally ripen in

till the second year after sowing.
Medical Properties and Uses. The petals of

vegetate

very highly fragrant odor, which
but some of the flavor

is

lost unless

is

used fresh

bitter.

Water

distillation

;

is

of them

quantities

large

is

dis-

sweetish and slightly

extracts the odor of the petals both

and when

by keeping,

the rose-water

;

from petals recently gathered; their taste

tilled

this rose possess a

not entirely dissipated

by

infusion and

employed

are

in

the distillation, a very small portion of yellow, fragrant, butyraceous
essential oil

is

sometimes procured, which

They

possessing no pungency.
water, but alcohol
a perfume.

The

is

is

give out a bitter principle to

also

menstruum.

their best

which

otto of roses,

is

are slightly laxative, but

except occasionally to children
applied in this country,
sesses

no medicinal

is

;

They

are chiefly used as

procured from

has a most powerful and fragrant odor, and

They

of a very mild nature,

is

this

exceedingly

are rarely administered medicinally,

the chief use to which the petals are

for the distillation of rose-water,

virtues,

and

species,

diff"usible.

is

which pos-

only used on account of

its

agree-

able odor

Aqua

Rose-water.

Roscc.

U.

S.

Dispensatory.

Take of

hundred-leaved roses, or petals, eight pounds, water two gallons

them and

distil

one gallon.

The Dublin College

spirit,

roses,

and two gallons of water, and

seven

distills

;

mix

orders a gallon of

the water to be distilled from eight pounds of the petals.

don College takes ten pounds of

fresh

fluid

The Lon-

ounces of proof

one gallon.

The Edin-

burgh College proceeds the same as the London, substituting three
fluid

ounces of rectified

following notice

:

"

The

spirit

their

of proof

spirit,

petals should be preferred

also answers well to use those

them with twice

for seven

when

and adds the
fresh,

but

it

which have been preserved by beating

weight of muriate of soda."


—

;

ORDER.

NAT.

Pomacea.
\

PYRUS SPECTABLIS.
Class XII.

Calyx, five-cleft.

Char.

Leaves,

Pome,

Petals, five.

ovate, oblong, acuminate,

Styles,

calyx.

is

a native of China, where

height of fifteen to twenty-five feet
pointed, crenate, and stand

numerous, grow

smooth.

serrate,

smooth.

This species oi'pear

in clusters

in pairs

;

it

attains the

the leaves are ovate, oblong,

;

the Jlowers which appear so

— they are large, aggregated, and

of a blood red color, afterwards

more

pale,

and

they become almost entirely white

fall,

inferior, five-

Claws of the corolla shorter than the

Umbells, simple, sessile.

petals

Pentagynia.

many seeded

celled,
Sj?e.

Order IV.

IcosANDRiA.

Gen. Char.

A CHINESE PEAR.

;

at first

at last, before the

the petals

ai*e

merous, but do not exclude the existence of stamens, and
pistils five

the

;

stamens more than twenty,

number of the stamens

is

all

nu-

pistils

attached to the calyx

not always the same in

the

all

flowers.

The pear tree which is eo universally spread over both conti
nents, has now become naturalized to many parts of the United
States, where, with
fruit

and

proper cultivation and a rich

soil, it

flourishes equally well, if not better, than in

country, China.

From

history,

we leai-n

that

it

ripens
its

its

native

was introduced

into

England immediately after the first settlement of that country, from
which time it has been constantly cultivated, and various improvements made by grafting and inoculation. The natural order pomaceae, contain, according to the best authorities, nine hundred and
10

NAT. OUUEU.

POMACES.

11

eighty varieties, of which the pear alone constitutes
third.

the pear

The
tion

more

In China, Hindostan, and the southern parts of

its

;

is

tha^Ji

one-

Germany,

extensively cultivated as a prominent article of food.

pear

is

decidedly one of the most useful

characteristics, of hardness of

fruits in cultiva-

the tree, beauty of

its

and wholesomeness of its fruit, whether prepared in pretaken immediately from the garden, or the fruit room, cer-

flowers,
serves,

one of the choicest

tainly

must be considered

manv

parts of the Eastern continent,

sively cultivated,

it

as

where

gifts

of nature.

this fruit is so

forms one of the principal articles of

In

exten-

diet,

not

only for man, but for keeping and fattening of cattle.

Medical Properties arid Uses.

much esteemed

in

The

seeds of the pear are very

some parts of Europe and China,

in the treatment

of fevers; they are considered cooling, and are found to possess
considerable astringent, and

very highly of the leaves of
bruised, as an excellent

tonic properties.

remedy

—

to be used fresh, after being
wounds, bruises, swellings, stop-

this tree

for

Culpeper speaks

page of blood, and reducing inflamation. The fruit, as an article
of food, and the flowers for beauty, are the chief peculiarities of
this tree, the wood being almost as hard as that of box, for which
it is

even substituted by wood engravers.


NAT. ORDER.
Dumosce.

UPLAND SUMACH.

RHUS GLABRUM.
Class V.

Pentandria.

Gen. Char.

Trigynia.

Orde?- III.

Calyx, five-parted.

Berry, one

Corolla-petals, five.

seeded.
Spe. Char.

Leaves, pinnate, quite entire.

membranace-

,

This specimen of Sumach
six to

Petioles,

'

ous, jointed.

twelve feet in height

;

is

a small tree usually rising from

the stem

divided into

is

many

strag-

which are bent and covered with a smooth light
grey, or somewhat reddish bark the leaves are pinnated, alternate,
and consist of several pair of pinnae, which are ovate-lance-shaped,
obtusely serrated, smooth above, hairy beneath, and stand upon
short footstalks; the ^oivers are numerous, small, white, and placed
in large branched spikes the calyx is five-toothed, erect, persistent,
and placed below the germen the corolla consists of five petals,
which are ovate, white, and mostly erect the Jilaments are five,
and very short; the anthers are small; \he germen is roundish, and

gling branches,

;

;

;

;

about the length of the corolla

;

the style

stigmas are three, and somewhat cordate

is
;

scarcely visible

the fruit

is

•

the

a roundish

one-celled red berry, and contains one solitary round hard seed.
It

produces

its

flowers in June and July.

This species of Sumach

is

found

United States, growing in old neglected

in

the borders of woods.

It is

almost

fields,

all

parts of the

along fences, and on

described by various authors as being

a native of the South of Europe, where

it

was considerably

culti-




;

NAT. ORDER.

— DUMOS^.

13

vated in their extensive gardens previous to the year 1648, but
still

is

a scarce plant in that country.

The genus
ral species

which

to

this species belongs,

which are known

to

be extremely poisonous, especially

the Toxicodendron, Radicans, and Vernix
innocent,

fectly

and

but the Glahrum

;

is

per-

most countries used

berries are in

its

comprehends seve-

for

culinary purposes.
Its

medicinal qualities are chiefly to be ascribed to

city or astringency

;

a property which

it

its

stypti-

possesses in a sufficient

it useful in dyeing, and also in tanning of leather,
was used in the time of Dioscorides.
The berries, which are red and of a round compressed figure,
contain a pulpy matter, in which is lodged a brown hard oval seed,

degree

for

to

which

render

it

manifesting a considerable degree of astringency.

when

dry,

is

gratefully acid,

The

and has been discovered

essential salt, similar to that of wood-sorrel, or

pulp, even

to contain

an

perhaps more nearly

allied to chrystals of tartar.

Bhus vcrnicifcra. Varnish-bearing Sumach, or Japan Varnish-tree.
is a tree rising from twenty to forty feet in height
leaves with

This

;

five or six pairs of leaflets, long,

petioles naked,

resembling those of the walnut

and are as well as the branchlets, clothed with down

leaflets elliptic, acute, quite entire,

smoothish above, but velvety be-

neath from puljescence.

affirms that the very best varnish

is

prepared from this

parts of that country

Tlumberg

which grows in gi-eat abundance in many
and is likewise cultivated in many places on

tree,
;

accoimt of the great advantage derived from it. The varnish which
oozes out of the tree on being wounded, is procured from stems that
are three years old, and
is

is

received in some proper vessel.

At

first it

of a lightish color and of the consister ce of cream, but grows thick-

and black on being exposed to the air. It is so transparent when
and unmixed upon the boxes or furniture, that every vein
of the wood may be clearly seen.

For the most part a dark ground
er

laid ])ure