NYCTAGINACE.ffi. 



Stem striated, purplish, with very few hairs. Leaves very distant, 

 about an inch long, somewhat orbicular, cordate, rounded at the point, 

 obscurely repand, ciliated, pale on the under side, not dotted, but 

 covered with short thick close-pressed hairs ; petioles smooth. Pedun- 

 cles branched upwards. Panicle ascending, very lax, leafless. Flowers 

 capitate. — According to Aublet the root is emetic, and called Ipeca- 

 quana in Guiana. Schomburgk states that it is astringent, and used in 

 the form of decoction in dysentery. 



757. B. tuberosa Lam. illustr. i. p. 10. — A native of Persia, 

 is reported to act both as a cathartic and emetic. 



758. Pisonia fragrans is reported to be an active emetic ; and 

 in a memoir read before the Royal Academy of Medicine in 

 Paris, it is said to be used as such in Cuba. Burnetts Outlines* 

 No. 1819. But what is Pisonia fragrans ? 



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