cies is at present known which strictly belongs to

the genus.

The May apple has a jointed running root about half the size of the finger, by which it spreads extensively in rich grounds, where it gets introduced. The stem is about a foot in height, and invested at its base by the sheaths which covered it when in bud. It is smooth, round and erect, dividing at top into two round petioles from three to six inches long. Each petiole supports a large peltate, palmate leaf, smooth above, slightly pubescent beneath, deeply divided into about seven lobes, which are wedge shaped, two parted and toothed at the extremity. On the inside the leaf is cleft almost to the petiole. In barren stems which support but one leaf this does not take place, and the leaf is very perfectly peltate. In the fork of

the stem is a solitary flower on a

round nodding Calyx of three

peduncle one or two inches long. oval, obtuse, concave leaves, cohering in the bud by their scarious margins, and breaking off at base when the flower expands. Petals from six to nine. Linnæus makes them nine in his generic character, but in this climate I have found them more frequently seven even in luxuriant specimens growing in very rich soil. They are obovate, obtuse, concave, smooth, white with slight

transparent veins. Stamens shorter than the petals, curving upwards; the anthers oblong, twice as long as their filaments. Germ oval, compressed, obscurely angular. Stigma nearly sessile, convex, its surface rendered irregular by numerous convolutions and folds. The flower is suc ceeded by a large ovate yellowish fruit, which is one celled, many seeded and crowned with the stigma. Its early period of ripening has given rise to the trivial name of May apple.

The dried root of the May apple is fragile and easily reduced to powder. It has a peculiar and rather unpleasant taste, but without much acrimony. When chewed for some time, it manifests a strong bitter taste. Both the tincture and decoction are intensely bitter. When water is added to the alcoholic solution the mixture becomes very gradually turbid, and at length opaque. On the other hand, alcohol disturbs both the infusion and decoction, especially the latter, in which it produces, after some time, a pearly whiteness. The trials I have made with it lead me to conclude that it contains a resin, a bitter extractive matter, fæcula and a slight proportion of a gummy substance.

The medicinal properties of the Podophyllum peltatum are those of a sure and active cathartic,