MAYZEA. 241 



cally in inflammations, much used in fomentations, cata- 

 plasms and clysters : also in dysentery, acrid humors. 

 Flowers and seeds pectoral in coughs, soreness of the 



throat and Inngs. 



MARANTA, L. Arroiv root.. Two sp. from East 

 Indies, j\L amndinacea and 3f- indica^ now cult, from 

 Carolina to BraziL Root yielding a large (luantity of 

 peculiar fecula, forming a jellj in liot water. One acre 

 yields HOOlbs. of this fecula* Excellent demulcent and 

 analeptic equal to Salep, good diet for invalids and con- 

 valescents, also for acrid secretions, hectic fever, dis- 

 eases of the kidneys and bladder, bowel complaints, de- 

 bility, &c. Used against poisons in West Indies, si^^i 

 prepared widi milk and sugar. The Malabar Arrow 



K-^ 



.1 in herpetic dis- 

 Ilorehound. Rank 



root is made with Curcuma angustif( 



MARCH 

 eases. 



MARRU 



smell and bitter taste. Mild aperient, deobstruent, me- 

 nagogue, vermifiise. Sec. much used in humoral asthma, 

 dysmenorrhea, hysteria, obstructions, jaundice, cachexy, 

 coughs, dropsy, "&c. It removes tiie salivation of mer- 

 cury 1 In large doses laxative. Base of the Negro Cesar 

 remedy against rattle snakes united to Gnaphalium. The 

 sirup, candy, tea with honev. often employed. 



MARTYNIA PROBOSCIDEA, L. Doubledaw. On 

 the Mississippi. Fruits make good pickles when young. 



MATRICARIA, L. Feather/en. Cult. Eq. of ^n- 



themis. Aperient, menagogiie, vermifuge. 



MAYZEA CEREALIS, Tt. Raf. {Zea Mityz, L.) 

 Maize, Indian Corn. Valuable cereal plant, cult, m 

 Asia 2500 years ago! in Tartary in 1240, see Marco 

 Polo! in Java and Africa before Columbus ! In America 

 from Canada to Peru. Producing from 50 to 100 bushels 

 per acre. Several var. with round or flat seeds, white* 

 vellow o*r colored, a peculiar sp. in Sr>uth America, M 

 vestila, Raf. with a valve to each seed. See my me 

 moir on Maize. A Mexican var. gigantca is 20 feet 

 high. The stems produce sirup and sagar like canes, 

 but much less, very good fodder. Leaves and husks 

 used for mattresses.' Very good thatch. Green com de- 



