APETALES. 985 
three kinds of rhubarb, Russian, Turkey, and Chinese rhu- 
barb. Its virtues are said to be dependent on a peculiar 
inciple called rheumine ; it also contains a yellow colouring 
atter called rhabarbarine, oxalate of lime, and gallic acid. 
Other species, as R. Emodi, R. Webbianum, R. spiciforme, 
R. Rhaponticum, R. compactum, R. crassinervium, possess 
similar properties. Coccoloba uvifera (sea-side grape), is 
powerfully astringent. It yields, on evaporating the decoc- 
tion, a sort of Kino, (Jamaica Kino.) The fruit is edible. 
Polygonum Hydropiper has an acrid and caustic juice, and is 
also a rubefacient. 
Oficinal Plants. 
Rheum palmatum. Rumex acetosa. 
Rheum undulatum. Rumex aquatica. 
Polygonum Bistorta. 
ORDER XLVIL 
THY MELE. 
Cuanacters.—Shrubs with alternate entire leaves, a 
Monosepalous, tubular, petaloid, superior, 4- or 5-cleft calyx, 
Sometimes persistent; corolla absent or scaly; stamens in- 
‘Serted in the tube, generally 8 or 4 ; ovary superior, 1-celled, 
-l-seeded ; ovule pendulous; style and stigma simple ;_peri- 
¢arp a drupe or achenium. 
_ Examrtes.—Spurge Laurel (Daphne Mezereum), Pas- 
‘Serina. D. gnidium and P. tinctoria furnish a yellow dye. 
The Lace-bark tree is a species of Daphne, D. lagetto, or 
now Lagetta lintearia. ee 
Mepicinat Prorertres.—The inner bark of several spe-_ 
