BORAGINACE^:. 



Fruit smooth externally, rough on the side next the receptacle. — The 

 species of Trichodesma are considered diuretic, and one of the cures for 

 snake bites in India. Royle. 



SYMPHYTUM. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla campanulate, with a truncated, 

 cylindrical shallow-toothed limb as long as the tube ; its throat 

 closed by 5, lanceolate, fringed, converging valves or append- 

 ages (sterile stamens). Anthers sagittate, acute, concealed by 

 the valves. 



986. S. officinale Linn. sp. pi. 195. Eng. Bot. t. 817. Woodv. 

 t. 215. Smith Eng.Fl. i. 263. — In watery meadows through- 

 out Europe. (Comfrey.) 



Root externally black, oblong, fleshy, yielding much pure insipid 

 mucilage, which renders it useful in coughs, and all internal irritation. 

 Stems 3 feet high, hairy, winged with the decurrent bases of the taper- 

 pointed, wavy, rough-edged leaves. Clusters hairy, stalked, in pairs, 

 revolute. Calyx more or less spreading. Smith. — Formerly in much 

 repute as a vulnerary, but not now employed. 



987. Cynoglossum officinale L. was once officinal, being used 

 as an antispasmodic ; but it is so fetid that it has long since 

 ceased to be exhibited. Smith says it is narcotic. 



*#* No plants of this order are of any real importance in medicine. 



484 



