TROPZOLUM MAJus. ORD. XXXVIII. Trihilate. ay 
* behind, divided at the mouth into five irregular seements, which 
are acute, erect, striated. Corolla consisting o of five petals, roundish, 
of which the two uppermost are bent backward ls, marked with black 
lines at the base, and inserted into the segments of the calyx: the 
three undermost have long claws or ungues, and are bearded at 
the base. Filaments eight, yellow, tapering, spreading. Anthere 
yellow, four-celled, ovate. Germen triangular. Style simple, 
erect, yellow. Stigma trifid, acute. Fruit three adhering berries, 
compact, externally striated, containing three irregular shaped 
seeds. Its flowers appear from June till October. 
This plant is a native of Peru; it was first brought to Prince i in 
1684, and there called Le grande Capucine; two years afterwards 
it was introduced into this country by Dr. Lumley Lloyd," and since 
that time has been constantly cultivated in British gardens. 4 
In its recent state this plant, and more especially its flowers, 
have a smell and taste resembling those of water cress; and the 
Jeaves, on being bruised in a mortar, emit a pungent odour, some- 
what like that of horse radish. By distillation with water they 
impregnate the fluid in a considerable degree with the smell and 
flavour of the plant.’ Hence the antiscorbutic character of the 
Nasturtium seems to be well founded, at least as far as we are able 
to judge from its sensible qualities: therefore in all those cases 
where the warm antiscorbutic vegetables are recommended, this 
plant may be occasionally adopted as a pleasant and effectual 
Variety. 
Patients, to whom the nauseous taste of scurvy-grass is intoler- 
able, may find a grateful substitute in the Nasturtium. 
The flowers are frequently used in saliads, and the capsules are 
by many highly esteemed as a pickle. 
~ The flowers, in the warm summer months, about the time of 
sun-set, have been observed to emit sparks like those of the elec- 
trical kind.‘ 
: Vide Hort. Kew. 6 Cartheus Diss. de Cardam. P. 9. 
© Vet. Acad, Handl. 1762. p. 284 
No, 48.—vo1. 4, 7R8 
