a Ll 
ASCLEPIAS ViNcEToxIcuM. ORD. XIV. Contorte. 269 
ROOT perennial, large, knobbed, from which issue a number of 
small, slender, yellowish fibres. Stalks above a foot in height, 
erect, round, simple, somewhat downy, jointed, at the base purplish, 
above green. Leaves on short footstalks, opposite, ovate, long, 
pointed, and bearded with short hairs at the base. Flowers white, ’ 
arising in clusters at the axille of the leaves. Calyx downy, 
divided into five narrow pointed segments. Corolla monopetalous, 
divided into five ovate, obtuse, spreading segments. Nectaria five, 
fleshy, adhering to the filaments; from the bottom horn-shaped, 
and bent inwards. Filaments five, of a tubular appearance. An- 
therz oblong, erect, within the*scales of the nectary. .Germina 
two, oblong. tapering. Styles. two, short, tapering. Stigmata 
simple. . Follicles two, large, oblong, pointed, ventricose, one- 
celled, one-valved. Seeds numerous, crowned with pappus. 
This plant, which is net uncommon in the northern parts of 
Europe, has been cultivated in Britain since the time of Parkinson, 
in 1640. . Its root, which is the part medicinally employed, has, 
** when fresh, a moderately strong not agreeable smell, approaching 
to that of wild valerian, which, in drying, is in great part dissi- 
pated ; chewed, it impresses first a considerable sweetness, which is 
soon succeeded by an unpleasant subacrid bitterishness.’* 
Bergius states the virtues of this root to be pullens, diuretica, 
sudorifica, emmenagoga, alexipharmica. 
By F. Hoffman it was found to possess an anodyne quality ;° but 
we are told by others that it sometimes excites nausea and vomit-- 
ing.* . It has been chiefly used in dropsical disorders; atid several 
cases are related in which it was given with great success ;* but as 
other medicines ‘were at the same time employed, the good effects 
of the Vincetoxicum may not be yet thought sadticienaly estab- 
lished. The same observation will apply to Stahl’s pulvis anti- 
* Lewis. 0. c. > Med. Syst. T.4. P. 3. p. 305. 
© Durr. Eph. Nat. Cur. Dec. 2. A. 7. p. 105. See also Geoff- 
4 Vide Bauh. hist. ii. p.139. Durr. l. e. 
No. 23.—von. 2. Sx 
