Papaveracea.

SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS.

Class XIII. POLYANDRIA.

Order I. MONOGYNIA.

BLOOD-ROOT.

Gen. Char. Sepuls, two, ovate, caduous. Petals, three to twelve. Stamens, twenty-four. Stigmas, bisulcate. Capsules, oblong, two-valved.

Spe. Char. Leaf, radical, kidney-shaped, lobed. Flowers, double or single, large or small.

THIS is a small perennial American herb, abounding in a bloodcolored juice, with one leaf and one scape rising from each bud. Professor Barton describes the Blood-root as a highly valuable herb, and from whom we quote the following: "The root of Puccoon is perennial, and of no definite size. It varies in thickness, from a quarter to a half, or sometimes three-quarters of an inch in diameter; and in length from two to four inches. It is generally about the size and length of a finger; fleshy, round, and abruptly terminated; being for the most part tolerably straight in the middle, with a curvature at each end. It is commonly of the shape represented in the plate, though not unfrequently, particularly in the new plant, shorter, and contorted or bent upwards. Occasionally a number of roots are connected together, principally by no closer attachment than that produced by a fasciculation of the numerous fibres originating from the main body. The external color of the root is brownish, inclining to copper; but being cut, it appears of a red hue; and a bright orange-colored juice is abundantly discharged; the end always has the appearance of having been cut off by a dull instrument, or

Vol. iii -121.

broken in removing it from the ground; the scape, which is uniformly terminated by a single flower, proceeds from one end of the root, and rises perpendicularly to the height of six or eight inches. In the early part of the season, that is, about the last of March or first of April, it flowers much under this height; and not unfrequently the flowers are expanded at these periods, when the scape has just appeared above ground; the leaf-stalks, which are thicker than the scape, are long, and arise from the same part of the root. This has relation to a plant in the state of forwardness represented in the plate. In common, by the time the flower is expanded, the leaf-stalk is not more than half the length of the scape; and it then supports a small convoluted leaf, with its lower lobes embracing this part. Both the leaf-stalks and scape, which are encircled at their origin from the root by a common sheathe, are of an orange color, deepest towards their junction with the caudex, and becoming paler near the leaves and flowers, where it is blended with green. When broken or squeezed, they emit a colored liquor, like that of the root,— but paler. The stain made by this fluid on paper, is a faint yellow. When this plant first comes up, the young leaf is rolled round both scape and flower-bud; and not unfrequently the flower is opened immediately over the convoluted leaf; the under side of the leaf is glaucous, the disc pale yellowish green, and on both sides the orangecolored veins are very conspicuous.

In favorable situations the plant has often one or two expanded leaves, like that in the plate; and these are also of a pale green color on their upper surface, and glaucous or bluish-white underneath, interspersed on either side with numerous orange-colored veins. The whole plant becomes much increased in size after the flowering is passed about a month; frequently attaining at this period the height of fifteen inches, but commonly not exceeding twelve. The leaves are then enlarged to twice or thrice the size of that in the plate, are heart-shaped, and deeply lobed. The number of lobes is mostly five or seven, and their edges have many small

unequal indentations. On each lobe one large fibre of a bright yellow color may be seen, running from the leaf-stalks, and sending off many s nailer ones; the flowers are white and spreading, and have two deciduous calyx leaves; the calyx is so exceedingly fugacious, that it is common for them to fall off before the flower is expanded; hence they are rarely seen; the petals, which for the most part are purely white, are often tinged on their under side, and sometimes on their upper, with a delicate rose-color; the flower-bud is generally faint rose-colored; the petals vary exceedingly, both in size and in number. I have in many flowers counted from seven to fourteen ; the most common number is about eight; the stamens are numerous; the anthers are simple and orange-colored; the filaments are simple, shorter than the corolla, and of a yellow color; the pistil is of a reddish green; the germens oblong and compressed; style none; stigma thick, two-furrowed, with a stria the height of the stamens, and permanent; the capsule, or, as Wildenow designates it, the siliqua, is oblong, swelling in the middle, acute at both ends, and two-valved; the seeds are numerous, round and pointed.

This is a plant peculiar to North America. Its systematic name, as well as its English and German appellations, are expressive of the peculiar reddish, or rather orange-colored juice which pervades every part of it. It is one of the most beautiful and delicate vegetables of our country. It is particularly interesting from its flowering at a season when there is little or no general verdure, and scarcely any thing in bloom, except trees, the inconspicuous florescence of which does not render them in general very attractive. It is also one of the most abundant plants of our states, growing plentifully from Canada to Florida.

The tendency of Blood-root, or Puccoon, to multiply its petals. in favorable situations, renders it likely that culture would readily produce a double variety; and, indeed, the variety Sanguinaria major flore pleno, by Dillenius, as quoted under the synonyma, proves that such a change has been effected in it. As these double

flowers are admired by the florists, the plant is worthy of being introduced into our gardens, where it thrives extremely well.

Propagation and Culture. In the wild state, Sanguinaria canadensis inhabits a rich, loose soil, on the declivity of hills, and the exposed borders of shady woods. Pursh says it generally delights in fertile soil. A large abundance of it is found in many parts of New Jersey, where the soil is sandy and almost inclining to arid.

In auspicious seasons, Blood-root flowers in the states of NewYork, New Jersey and Pennsylvania in the last days of March; and even in the common weather of the spring months, it may always be found in bloom about the first of April. Dr. Thatcher has given the Indian name, as Pauson. After many inquiries I believe this to be incorrect, and a mere corruption of the true aboriginal name, Puccoon, as given at the head of this article. This being a dwarf plant, it should be planted near the front of the flower-border; it will thrive well in a light sandy loam or peat soil, and it is easily increased by dividing the roots or by seeds.

Chemical Analysis. From the chemical analysis of Blood-root, made by Dr. Downey, it appears that there is a gum, a resin, and a saponaceous or extractive matter in the root, and that the gum is in the greatest abundance. It results also from the same experiments, that the active principle of the plant chiefly resides in the gum and extractive matter, but especially in the former.

Medical Properties and Uses. This plant is emetic and purgative in large doses; and in smaller quantities is stimulant, diaphoretic and expectorant; but it is principally valued for its emetic power. It is a powerful medicine, and has produced dangerous effects when incautiously administered. Dr. Shopf mentions the emetic and purgative virtue of the root. Fifteen or twenty grains of the pulverized root produce powerful emesis; but the medicine must be given in the form of pills, as the powder creates great irritation of the fauces. A decoction or extract will perhaps answer better. The root of this plant, when exhibited as an emetic, has been found to