1G8 



powerfully anthelmintic. Barton, 2. 187. The seeds of Atriplex hortensis 

 are said to be so unwholesome as to excite vomiting. M. Chevallier has 

 remarked the singular fact, that Chenopodium vulvaria exhales pure ammo- 

 nia during its whole existence. This is the only observation upon record 

 of a gaseous exhalation of azote by vegetables ; and the facility with which 

 this principle is abandoned by ammonia may perhaps explain the presence of 

 azotic products in the vegetable kingdom. Arm. des Sc. Nat. 1. 444. 

 Examples. Chenopodium, Blitum, Atriplex. 



CLIV. PHYTOLACCE.E. The Virginian Poke Tribe. 



Phytolacce^t,, /?. Broivn in C(Wi/70, 454. (1818.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with definite erect ovula, an 

 inferior many-leaved calyx, distinct perigynous stamens, a multilocular 

 ovarium, an embryo rolled round mealy albumen, with the radicle next 

 the hilum, and terminal stigmas. 



Anomalies. Rivina has only 1 carpellum. 



EssEKTiAL Character Calyx of 4 or 5 petaloid leaves. Stamens either inde- 

 finite, or, if equal to the number of the divisions of the calyx, alternate with them. Ova- 

 rium of from 1 to several cells, each containing 1 ascending ovuliim ; styles and stigmas 

 equal in number to the cells. Fruit baccate or dry, entii-e or deeply lobed, 1- or many- 

 celled. Seeds ascending, solitary, with a cylindrical embryo curved round mealy albumen, 



■with the radicle next the hilum Under-shrubs or herbaceous plants. Leaves alternate, 



entire, without stipulae, often with pellucid dots. Flmoers racemose. 



Affinities. Nearly related to Chenopodese and Polygonese, from the 

 first of which they are distinguished by their multilocular ovarium, and by 

 their stamens exceeding the number of divisions of the calyx ; a circumstance 

 which never occurs in Chenopodese. From Polygone® they are known by 

 the radicle being turned towards the hilum, and the want of stipulte. 

 Rivina, which has the albumen very much reduced in quantity, and a uni- 

 locular fruit, connects Phytolaccete with Petiveriacea). Mr. Brown remarks 

 {Congo, 455) that these two orders, widely as they differ in the structure of 

 the ovarium, are connected by a species of Phytolacca related to P. abys- 

 sinica, in which the 5 cells are so deeply divided that they merely cohere 

 by their inner angles ; and also by Gisekia, which has 5 distinct ovaria. 

 But I do not think that the existence of these gradations of structure in 

 the ovarium neutralises the remarkable differences that still exist between 

 these two orders in embryo and stipute. 



Geography. Natives of either America, within or without the tropics, 

 Africa, and India. None have been found wild in Europe ; but Phytolacca 

 decandra is naturalised in some of the southern parts. 



Properties. A tincture of the ripe berries of Phytolacca decandra 

 seems to have acquired a well-founded reputation as a remedy for chronic 

 and syphilitic rheumatism, and for allaying syphiloid pains. By some it is 

 said to be more valuable than Guaiacum. Its pulverised root is an emetic. 

 Barton, 2. 220. And a spirit distilled from the berries is stated to have 

 killed a dog in a few minutes, by its violent emetic effects. According to 

 Decandolle, this plant is also a powerful purgative. The leaves are extremely 

 acrid, but the young shoots, which lose this quality by boiling in water, are 

 eaten in the United States as Asparagus. 



Examples. Phytolacca, Rivina. 



