LABIATE. 03 



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LAVANDULA STCECHAS, Li 



'inn» 



Fig. — Barrel Ic, t, 301. Arabian or French Lavender 

 {Eng.)y Stoeclias Arabiqnc {Fr.\. 



Hab. — Mediterranean Coasts to Asia Minor and Arabia, 

 The flower spikes. 



Vernacular. — Dharu [ITukL), Ustuldmdus {LuL Bazars). 



History, Uses, &C, — Dioscoridcs states that this pknt 

 is called Stoochas from its growing on the Stoochades, a group 

 of islands on the South Coast of Gaul near Massilia, now called 

 Isles d'Hyeres. It is the crj*^t^l or ^^^Sili-Mif of Ibn Sina, 

 It is much used by Mahometan physicians, who consider it 

 to be cephalic, resolvent, deobstruent and carminative, and 

 prescribe it in chest affections ; they also think that it assists in 

 expelling bilious and phlegmatic humors. (Cf . Bios, iii., 28 ; 



Taul. JEg. vi, ; FUn, 26, 27.) 



The author of the Malxhzan-el-Adiciya devotes a whole folio 

 page to a description of its properties, and especially enlarges 

 upon its cephalic virtues; he concludes by saying, ^^In short 

 Ustukhudus is the broom of the brain, it sweeps away all 

 phlegmatic impurities, and removes obstructious, strengthening 

 its powers, expelling vain crudities, and rarifying the intel- 

 lect." 



In Western India the drug is best known, though incor- 

 rectly, under the Portuguese name of Alfazcma,^ which is 

 corrupted by the natives into Alphajan. In European medicine 

 the flowers furnish the base of the sirop de stcechm compose^ 

 and are sometimes distilled for the sake of their essential oil 

 whicli is known as "false oil of Spike," the true oil of Spike 

 being tlie produce of L. Sjnca, 



L, Stcechas is known in Spain as "Homero Santo" (sacred 

 rosemary). Its essential oil (also that of L. dentata) is there 

 obtained for household use hy s uspending the fresh flowcrin 



hamndtila mra, L. Stachas.h called Rosmarinho by fclie Portugucoe 

 in Europe. ^ 





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