BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 241 
Foeniculi of the British codex. Fennel is also 
an ingredient in the much esteemed Pulvis Gly- 
cyrrhize Compositus. Fennel derives its name 
from the Latin word fenum, (hay), from the 
fact that the odor at first resembles hay, but 
when bruised, the odor is strongly of its own 
kind, . 
Ficus, Fig, Ficus Carica,—Natural order Ur- 
ticacee. This small treeor shrub is a native of 
western Asia, but found growing in all the tem- 
_ perate climates of the world, cultivated in the 
southern portions of Europe and the southern 
portions of the United States for its fruit. In 
the northern parts of Europe and America the 
fig tree rarely reaches a greater height than 12 
feet, but in Asia it often attains the height of 
3ofeet. The leaves are of a deep green color, 
palmate in shape, with five lobes; flowers have 
no corolla and are remarkable from the fact 
that they are the reverse of the strawberry, the 
minute pistils being scattered over the body of 
the fruit. Figs differin size, shape and flavor 
according to cultivation and climatic influences, 
The fresh figs are top-shaped (turbinate) and 
about the size of a small egg, but as found in 
commerce they are compressed and encased in 
sugar. Figs contain gum, sugar, albumen, fat 
and a number of salts, and are used asa luxury, 
and in medicine as a laxative; externally ap- 
plied as a poultice, and form one of the ingre- 
dients in the confection of senne. 
Illicicum Anisatum, Star Anise.—Natural 
order Magnoliacee. This evergreen tree is a 
native of Siam and western China, and is 
adorned with entire smooth, glossy leaves, ovate 
