26 LYCOPUS. No. 61. 



I 



properties are rather similar to Z- inflata^ although less 

 active,- it is chiefly sudorific and diuretic, and its pro- 

 perties ace not so easily destroyed by heat, since it is 

 used in decoction and extract- The root has been 

 chiefly used instead of the plant ; dose, five to twenty 

 grains of the extract in dropsy. The Northern Indians 

 used it for the cure of syphilis, in conjunction with 

 Pninus and Podophyllum^ and in strong decoction, wash- 

 ing also the ulcers with it, and sprinkling them with the 

 powder of CeanQthiis ; but it has failed in the hands of 

 physicians, and only availed in some cases of gonorrhea, 

 acting then as a diuretic. Henry recommends to unite 

 to it Geranium faaculatum and willow b^rk as astrin- 

 gents. It disagrees wdth the stomach, anH often causes 



griping, purging, and vomiting, 



i. cardinalis has large scarlet flowers in a long naked 

 raceme, leaves oval lanceolate, acuminate at both ends. 

 Found near streams and marshes. The taste is similar 

 to X. inflata^ The. root has chiefly been employed in 

 decoction by the Cherokee Indians in syphilis, and 

 against worms. It is said to be equivalent lo. Spigelia 

 or pinkroot. These properties deserve further inquiry, 

 as the whole genus Lobelia appears to be more or less 

 medical with us ; the other species have not yet been 

 tried: one species (perhaps L. daytoniana) is said to be 

 used as a mild diuretic in Carolina. 



No. 61. LYCOPUS VIRGINICUS. 



Names. Bugleweed. Fr. Lycope de Virginie, Vul- 

 gar. Water Bugle, Buglewort, Water Horehound, 

 Gypsie Weed, Paul's Betony. 



Classif. Nat. Order of Labiate- Diandria monogy- 



nia L. 



Grenus Lycopus. Calls four or five cleft, corolla ta- 

 bula, four cleft, nearly equal, upper segment broader 

 and emarginate, two distant stamina, four retuse seeds? 

 powers verticillate. 



Sp. Lycopus yirginiais. Stem, simple, angles obtuse, 

 leaves broad lanceolate, serrate, base attenuated, entire, 



