258 FLORA HOM(COPATHICA. 
almost always entirely wanting. The Jeaves are numerous, on 
hairy footstalks, depressed, nearly circular, of a purplish-red. 
The whole disk, but especially the margin, beset with red, 
inflexed hairs, which discharge from their ends a drop of viscid, 
acrid fluid. The scape is from two to six inches in height, 
upright, naked, round, and smooth, terminated by a simple 
(sometimes bifid) cluster of flowers, which is drooping or revo- 
lute when growing. Bracteas awl-shaped, deciduous, one 
under each partial stalk. Flowers white, with five petals, five 
stamens, and six pistils. The pistils are said to be always 
double the number of the valves of the capsule in every known 
Drosera. The flowers are seldom seen in an expanded state. 
Linneus says that they only open at nine in the morning, and 
close at noon. The leaves have a peculiar property of entrap- 
ping insects, like the Dionea muscipula. 
GrocrapuicaL Distrisution.—The Drosera rotundifolia is 
indigenous in Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and other 
parts of Europe. Wildenow enumerates ten species, which are 
found in Asia, North and South America, New Holland, and 
the Indian Archipelago. 
Locaritrzs.—In mossy, turfy bogs. In this country it is 
found generally among sphagnum. 
Parts UseD 1n Mepicing, AND Mopr oF PREPARATION.— 
For homeopathic purposes we take the whole plant, gathered 
in July; express the juice, and treat it like other fresh plants. 
Hahnemann declares that succussion increases to a great extent 
the medicinal power of the juice of Drosera, and therefore great 
care must be taken in preparing this drug. 
PuysioLocicaL Errrcts.—On Animals. Ray (op. cit.) men- 
tions that this plant is supposed to produce intestinal disease 
in sheep; hence the origin of one of its provincial names, Red- 
rot. Viborg (Abh. fiir Thier Arzt.) gave Drosera to a sheep 
daily for three weeks, without producing any deleterious effect. 
On Man.—The whole plant is acrid, and sufficiently caustic 
to erode the skin. Burdach (Arzneim., vol. iii. p. 105, 1820) 
