S p ig e l ia . L. 5. 1.
S. Marylandica. L. Pink Root. The genus was named
after Professor A. Spigelius, of Padua. This species has been
cultivated by the Shakers. It is the well-known vermifuge, under
the name of Carolina Pink ; a handsome plant, with opposite,
sessile leaves, and a terminal cluster of crimson flowers. For
its medicinal properties, consult Bigelow’s “ Medical Botany.”
A native of the Southern States.
Another species, a native of the West Indies, has the same
vermifuge character in a higher degree, and both, like opium, produce
sleep, and sometimes dangerous symptoms.
ORDER 199. CONVOLVULACEiE. T he B indweed
T r ib e .
Two floral envelopes, both 5-lobed, inferior, with 5 stamens inserted
into the base of the corolla ; stems often twining, smooth,
and milky ; rarely leafless ; ovary simple, few-seeded.
C onvolvulus. L. 5. 1. Bindweed.
From the Latin, to entwine; contains 150 species, chiefly
natives of India and the tropical parts of America; some are
mere weeds, some are quite beautiful, and some very useful,
C. sepium. L. Wild Morning Glory. Named specifically
from its frequenting hedges and thickets ; often called Great
Bindweed ; a beautiful twining plant; grows on low grounds,
running over shrubs, and bearing large, whitish, and reddish blossoms,
in June.
C. stuns. Mx. Dwarf Morning Glory. About a foot high,
erect, bearing one or two whitish flowers ; sandy woods ; July.
Sometimes cultivated.
C. purpureus. L. Common Morning Glory. A beautiful
twining plant, with fine, large, purple flowers ; grows often '20 feet
high ; cultivated about houses for ornament; partially naturalized,
but introduced from the warmer parts of North America.
C. arvensis. L. Field Bindweed. A troublesome vine,
twining round plants in gardens and fields, with insignificant flowers
; June.
C. batatas. L. Sweet Potato. Sometimes cultivated in this
State ; a southern plant of great value for its roots, which are a
well-known luxury. A native of India and tropical America.
It is the potato of Shakspeare, and those who mentioned this root
before the common potato was cultivated in Europe. Loudon.
Scammony, a well-known, stimulant and cathartic, is obtained
from the roots of one species of this genus ; so diverse are the
properties of the various species.
Cuscuta. L . 5. 2.
C. Americana. L. Dodder. A singular plant, being a leafless
vine of a deep-yellow color, springing from a seed in the
ground, soon twining round any plant it meets with, and attaching
itself closely by teethlike projections, which pierce into the plant;
thus it draws nourishment, and obtains a support, and soon dies at
the ro o t; it then sends out a shoot to fasten and twine in the same
manner, and in all cases it twines from right to left. Where it
is attached to other plants, it enlarges, and bears clusters of small
white flowers ; on banks of streams, and in shady wet places ;
June. This is the only species indigenous to North America.
Deriving its support and nutriment from other plants, it is
beautifully called a parasite, and is one of many parasitic plants.
C. Europcea. L. European Dodder. Described by Beck
as parasitic on flax near Albany ; and occasionally to be met with
in this State ; a native of Britain.
ORDER 200. POLEMONIACEiE. T he G reek Valerian
T ribe.
Both floral envelopes inferior, with 5 divisions ; corolla bearing
the 5 stamens inserted in the middle of it, and alternating with the
segments ; ovary superior, 2-celled ; style simple, with a trifid
stigma ; capsule 1-celled, 3-valved ; leaves simple or compound,
alternate or opposite.