man. Cakes made of the Hour of this species, we are 

 told by Thimberg, round, coloured, and baked, are sold in 

 every inn in Japan. 



Loureiro states, that P, odoratum is cultivated through- 

 out the kingdom of Cochin China as an excellent vegetable 

 for eating with broiled meat and fish. 



Humboldt states, that the South American Indians 

 smoke the leaves of P. hispidum instead of tobacco. 



P. 'perfoliatum is said by Loureiro to be used by the 

 Chinese for softening ivory and bone, so as to render them 

 more fit for being coloured and stamped v^^ith various figures. 

 According to the same w^riter, P. tinctorium is used for dye- 

 ing linen of a beautiful blue or green colour. P. chinense, 

 harhatiim, and avicidare, are cultivated in Japan for the 

 same purpose ; of these, w^e are informed by Thunberg 

 that the former yields a sort of indigo, — the leaves being 

 dried and pounded are made into cakes, in which state they 

 are sold for dyeing both silk and cotton. 



The medical properties of Polygonums are unimportant; 

 none of the species are admitted into modern Materia 

 Medicas, except the P. bistorta. The root of this abounds 

 with an astringent principle, which has been said to be 

 of the utmost efficacy in atonic and chronic diarrhoeas, 

 haemorrhages, &c. The Centumnodia of the old Materia 

 Medicas (P. aviculare) was said to have seeds endued with 

 an emetic principle ; but there appears to be no ground for 

 the assertion. There is also a species known in Brazil, in 

 the province of St. Paul, called Erva de bicho, which is not 

 only used as a sort of sauce for all kinds of meat, but is 

 administered, both externally and internally, as a kind of 

 universal remedy for diseases and wounds. 



J. L. 



