ACORUS. 



t. 173. Smith Eng. Fl. ii. 157. — AKopa;, Dioscorides 



Meadows, and banks of rivers all over Europe. (Sweet Flag.) 



Rhizoma thick, rather spongy, with many long roots, aromatic, like 

 every part of the herbage but much more powerfully so. Leaves erect, 

 2 or 3 feet high, bright green, near an inch broad. Stalk like the 

 leaves, except being thicker below the spadix, and not quite so tall. 

 Spadix about a foot above the root, a little spreading, 2 or 3 inches 

 long, tapering, covered with a mass of very numerous, thick-set, pale 

 green flowers, which have no scent, except when bruised. A very 

 narrow wavy membrane may be observed at the base of the spadix, 

 which must be taken as the rudiment of a spathe. Smith. — The rhi- 

 zoma contains an aromatic bitter principle which has caused the plant 

 to be regarded as medicinal. In cases of chronic catarrh and humid 

 asthma benefit has been received from its exhibition. In Constantinople 

 the rhizoma is made into a confection, which is considered a good 

 stomachic and is eaten freely during the prevalence of epidemic diseases. 

 It is in this country chiefly employed by perfumers, in the manufacture 

 of hair powder, on account of the fragrance of the essential oil which is 

 mixed with its farinaceous substance. Mr. Pereira says that although 

 it is rarely employed in medicine it might frequently be substituted for 

 other more costly aromatics. It is adapted to cases of dyspepsia, or as 

 an adjunct to tonics or to purgatives. 



pistiace^:. 



Nat. syst. ed.2. p. 367. 



PISTIA. 



Spathe tubular at the base, and connate with the spadix ; 

 limb spreading, augmented by a process forming an involucre 

 to the spadix at the upper part. Spadix interruptedly g 71 , $ 

 at bottom, £ at the top, which is distinct. Anthers 3-8, adnate, 

 subglobose. Ovary single, placed obliquely upon the adnate 

 base of the spadix, 1-celled, with many erect ovules, attached 

 to a parietal placenta close to the base ; style thick ; stigma 

 somewhat cyathiform. Fruit baccate, 1-celled, many-seeded, or 

 by abortion few-seeded. JBlume. 



1291. P. Stratiotes Linn. sp. pi. 963. Willd. iii. 690. Blame 

 Rumphia i. 79. Roxb. jl. hid. iii. 131. — (Rheede xi. t. 32. 

 Rumph. vi. t. 74.) — Pools of stagnant water, all over the 

 Tropics. 



Root consists of numerous, long, tapering, hairy fibres. Leaves ra- 

 dical, sessile, between obcordate and triangular ; having the exterior 

 margin scolloped, with many elevated ridges running lengthways under- 

 neath ; downy on both sides. Runners from the base of the united 

 607 



