LISIANTHUS. 



peduncles. Corolla 1 \ inch long, of a beautiful pale violet colour, with 

 acute segments. — The Brazilians make use of the root, which is ex- 

 tremely bitter, in decoction, as a febrifuge. Martius. 



CUTUBEA. 



Calyx campanulate, 4-parted. Corolla hypocrateriform ; tube 

 cylindrical, equal ; throat naked ; limb 4-parted. Stamens pro- 

 jecting ; filaments bidentate at the base ; anthers sagittate, »ot 

 changing when dry. Stigma bilaraellate. Capsule 2-celled, 

 2-valved, many-seeded. Martius. 



1103. C. spicata AM. guian. i. 72. t. 27 — Exacum spi- 

 catum Vahl. symb. iii. 17. Contoubea alba Lam. diet. ii. 162. 

 — Common in Guiana by roadsides and on the banks of rivers 

 and water courses. 



An annual, growing about 3 feet high, with an obtusely quadrangular 

 stem. Leaves somewhat fleshy, sessile, smooth, glaucous, lanceolate, 

 whorled. Flowers spiked, axillary and terminal ; those lowest in the 

 spike opposite each other, the upper ones alternate; all sessile. Corolla 

 white. — The whole plant is very bitter. It is employed successfully in 

 promoting the menstrual discharge, in various stomach-complaints, in 

 visceral obstructions and as an anthelmintic. Aublet. 



U04f. Cutubea ramosa Aubl. is used like the last. 



MENYANTHES. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla funnel-shaped, with an induplicate 

 aestivation ; the limb spreading, 5-lobed, equal, stupose. Stigma 

 capitate, furrowed. Capsule 1 -celled, 2-valved, with the pla- 

 centae in the middle of the valves. 



1105. M. trifoliata Linn, sp.pl. 207. Fl. Lond. t. 17. Fl. 

 Dan. t. 541. Woodv. t. 2. Eng. Bot. t. 495. Bigel. med. 

 hot. iii. t 46. — Common in spongy boggy soils in Europe and 

 North America. (Buckbean.) 



Rhizoma penetrating horizontally in the bog-earth to a great distance, 

 regularly intersected with joints at the distance of about half an inch 

 from each other ; these joints are formed by the breaking off of the old 

 petioles and their sheaths. The leaves proceed from the end of the 

 rhizoma on long stalks furnished with broad sheathing stipules at base ; 

 they are trifoliate, nearly oval, glabrous, somewhat fleshy, and slightly 

 repand, or furnished with many irregularities at the edge, which hardly 

 prevent them from being entire. Scape round, ascending, smooth, 

 bearing a conical raceme of flowers. Peduncles straight, supported by 

 ovate concave bractes. Calyx erect, somewhat campanulate, 5-parted, 

 persistent. Corolla white ; its tube short, border 5-cleft, spreading and 

 at length revolute, clothed on the upper part with a coating of dense, 

 fleshy, obtuse hairs. Stamens 5, shorter than the corolla, and alternate 

 with its segments; anthers oblong-arrow-shaped. Ovary ovate; stigma 

 bifid, compressed. Capsule ovate, 2-valved, 1-celled. Seeds numerous, 

 minute. — All the plant, the root especially, intensely bitter. Reckoned 

 one of the most valuable of tonics. Large doses produce vomiting, 

 523 



