ASTERACE^E. 



909. M. officinalis Martins travels in Braz.Eng. ed. 1.327. 

 DC. prodr. v. 189. — Brazil. (Coracoa de Jesu.) 



Erect, smooth. Stem nearly simple. Leaves decussating, somewhat 

 triangular-ovate, cordate with a great sinus, toothed at the sides, entire 

 towards the point, drooping. Panicles corymbose, terminal. — The 

 leaves of this beautiful plant have an agreeable mixture of bitter, muci- 

 laginous, and aromatic ingredients, and are therefore used, with great 

 success, like Peruvian bark and cascarilla. It is said to be particularly 

 efficacious as well in remitting fevers, as in weakness of digestion. It 

 is taken both in decoction and extract. Martins. 



910. M. Guaco Ilumb. and Bonpl. pi. acq. ii. 84. t. 105. DC. 

 prodr. v. 193. — Hot damp places in South America on the 

 banks of the River Magdalena. (Guaco.) 



An herbaceous twining plant. Branches round, sulcate, hairy. 

 Leaves stalked, ovate, somewhat acuminate, shortly narrowed at the 

 base, remotely toothed, netted, roughish above, hairy beneath. Corymbs 

 axillary, stalked, opposite. Heads somewhat ternate, sessile. Bract- 

 lets linear, shorter than the involucre. Involucral scales linear-oblong, 

 obtuse, downy. Achaenia smooth. — Reputed in South America to be 

 a powerful remedy for the wounds of venomous serpents; the imported 

 extract having been tried in this country against hydrophobia has pro- 

 duced no effect; and the remedy has fallen into disrepute. But it may 

 lose its active principles by keeping. Dr. Hancock however asserts 

 that the real alexipharmic Guaco is an Aristolochia. 



911. M. opifera Martins travels in Braz. Eng. ed. i. p. 327. 

 DC. prodr. v. 197. — Brazil. (Erva da Cobra.) 



A smooth climbing plant. Stem angular. Leaves stalked, cordate, 

 acuminate, repand-toothed or nearly entire, when full grown rather 

 blunt. Heads stalked, in corymbose panicles. Involucral scales oblong, 

 rather acute. Bractlets lanceolate, involute, rather shorter. — The 

 expressed juice is used externally and internally, and the bruised bark, 

 moistened with oil, is applied as a poultice, in case of wounds caused 

 by the bite of venomous serpents. It is said to effect a cure by its 

 powerful diuretic action. See on this subject, Gomez, in the Memoirs 

 of the Royal Academy of Lisbon, 1812. ii. p. 23., where the plant is 

 described as Eupatoriiim crenatum. Martins. 



ADENOSTYLES. 



Head few -flowered, discoidal. Receptacle narrow, naked. 

 Involucral leaves few, in a single row, forming a cylinder. Co- 

 rolla tubular, with a campanulate 5-toothed limb. Arms of the 

 style very long, semicylindrical, covered all over with papillose 

 glands. Achaenium taper, striated. Pappus in several rows, 

 consisting of rough hairs. DC. 



912. A. glabra DC. prodr. v. 203. — Cacalia alpina /3 Linn, 

 sp. pi. 1170. Cacalia glabra Vill. dauph. iii. 170- C. alliariae- 

 folia Lam. diet. i. 532. C. alpina Jacq.fi. austr. t. 234. Ade- 

 nostyles viridis Cass. diet. i. suppl. p. 59. A. alpina Bluff, and 

 Fingerh. comp. ii. 329. — Alps of France, Germany, Italy, and 

 even on the mountains of Sicily. 



452 



