SPONGIA. 265 



^ SOLIDAGO ODORA, Ait. Sweet Goldenrod, Pro- 

 lific genus, we have nearly 70 sp- This easily knowu 

 by its sweet scent near to aniseed. Essential oil of it 

 has same scent, much used for head ache, in frictions. 

 Whole plant aromatic stimulant, diaplioretic, carmina- 

 tive, useful in flatulence, nausea, spasms of the stomach, 

 chiefly used as a grateful tea. Leaves prepared like 

 tea, have been sent to China, much used in some parts 

 of our country, used in fevers by Cherokis. Some 

 other sp. also medical, but more astringent, aperient, 

 corroborant, useful In gravel, ulceration of the bladder, 

 fevers, dropsy, cachexy, lax bowels, S.virgaurea (wild) 

 and the subodorous sp. chiefly used. A species said by 

 Schoepf to be used for wounds and bites of rattlesnakes 

 in decoction, also in tumors, angina, pains in the breast 

 and viscid tumors. 



SONCIIUS, L. Mild eq. of Xacmca. Many sp. 5'. 

 cleraceous edible, milk dispels wa^ts* 



SORB US, L. Mountain ash^ Service tree, 3 sp. eq. 

 Bark smells and tastes like cherry bark, equal to it, 

 more astringent, fine tonic, antiseptic, contains Prussic 

 acid, used in fevers and other diseases, like Cinchona. 

 Fruits very austere, never ripen, become mellow and 

 edible when rotten; yield malic acid, make a very 

 strong cider, and furnish alcohol. S. pumilus, Raf- of 

 Oregon mountains, has large edible fruits, eaten and 

 dried bv the Shoshonis. 



SORGHUM, Lin. Broom corn^ Indian millet, 2 ^p* 

 cultivated. S. sacharalnm^ yields sugar, much used for 

 brooms, S^ vulgare^ seeds afTord flour, cakes, coffee and 



chocolate. 



SPINACIA, L. Spinage. 2sp. cult- S. oleraceaand 



^inosa, esculent, diluent, laxative, eccoprotic. 



SPIREA, L- Add, Sp.saUcif alia used as an agreea- 

 ble subtonlc and subastringent tea near Albany, &c* 

 My. Sp..corymbosa also in Virginia. 



SPONGIA, L* Spunge. Prolific tribe, 250 sp. Not 

 animals, but sea plants, having no motion whatever I 

 All eq. of Fucus. Wrv useful in surgery, wounds, ul- 

 cers, Stc- Best poison for rats, cut small. Burnt sponge 

 specific for bronchocele. Contain iodine and osmazome- 



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