CHENOPODIUM. 207 



chiefly used to make hats, baskets, fans^nd mats, with 

 the leaves. The Ch, palmetto or Royal Palmetto, the 

 largest risirif; 80 feet, wood spongy, valuable because in- 

 corruptible in water, and never eaten by worms, used 

 for wharves and forts, resisting cannon balls. The cen- 



tral cabbage is deliciousj trees often wantonly destroyed 

 for it- Sap now little used, although affording Palm 



wine. 



CHaTIA, L. Water Feathers, Aquatic plants, with 

 a fetid srnell, said to be antispasmodic and vermifuge. 

 They contain a peculiar substance, Charine, similar to 

 animal matter, a fetid green oil, arid many salts, chiefly 



carbonate of lime, produced by crustaceous Polyps co- 

 vering the plants- 



CHEIRANTHUS, L. Wallflower. Several species 

 cultivated, sweet scented nervine^ The Cluaaper, N. of 

 the West, is called Bitter root by the Indians, intensely 

 bitter, and used br them as ai:onic. 



CHELIDONIUM MAJUS, L. Celandine. Probably 

 native. Whole plant used, the juice or sap rs a yellow 

 milk, acrid and bitter, which extirpates warts, cures 

 ringworms, and cleans old ulcers. Diuretic and diapho- 

 retic, aperient and hepatic, stimulant and detergent* 

 Beneficial in dropsy, cachexy, jaundice, oedema, tabes, 

 &c. in decoction. A poultice boiled in milk has cured 

 the herpes miliaris : a poultice of the roots mashed in 

 vinegar, disperses scrofulous tumors of the nock : an 

 ointment with lard cures the piles. Juice also ophthal- 

 mic, useful for sore eyes and to take off films in the eyes. 

 The CK glaiicium^ L. {Horn poppy^ Bruiseroot) found 

 on the sea sliore of Virginia by Schuepf, has a similar 

 yellow juice, more fetid, deleterious, narcotic, phantas- 

 tic. Seldom used internally ; but very useful externally 

 for wounds, contusions, gravelly pains, the ulcers of 

 horses and cattle. In Portugal, leaves infused in wine 

 taken for gravel in small doses. These plants are acrid 

 narcotic, acting sometimes as drastic or diuretic. Their 

 analysis gives a peculiar substance, Chelidine^ bitter, 

 nauseous and yellow, citric acid, lime, potash, mucilage, 



albumen, silica, &c. 

 CHENOPODIUM, L. Lamb's quarter, Pig weed, 



^QW bank. Several species, native or naturalized, eaten 



