Q2 BRASfiMZA. No. 17. 



rida, rare in Virginia, Missouri and Kentucky, found 

 only in some local places, but there extremely abun- 

 dant, and spreading so as to cover the whole surface 

 of ponds, lakes, marshes and sluggish streams. 



Qualities— The plant has no smell, but the taste 

 is subastringent and bitterish ; the jelly is a pure muci- 

 lage similar to that of Lichen and Sesamum^ and 

 spontaneously evolved ; becoming gummose in dry- 

 ing- 



PROPERTIES— Mucilaginous, astringent, demul- 

 cent, tonic, nutritive, &:c. Intermediate between 

 Lichen Mandicics and the Water Lilies. The fresh 

 leaves may be used like Lichen, in pulmonary com- 

 plaints and dj'sentery : when dry the gelatinous mat- 

 ter almost disappears, yet they impart mucilage to 

 water. If no virose quality exists in this plant, as the 

 taste of deer for it appears to indicate, it may become 

 a useful substitute or auxiliary to Lichen in phthisis, 



inflammations, debility, &c. boiled into decoction or 



jelly. 



Substitutes — Lungwort or Pulmonaisa — Lichens 



•Arrow-root — ^alu^—Nymphea & Nelumhium 

 Polypodiiim — Adianthum — Tussilago — Elecampan< 



Liquorice— Marshmallow — Sesamum — Flaxseed. 



Remarks — Unnoticed as yet by all medical wri 

 ters, but w^ell known to the Indians. 



