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NAT. ORDER. GRUINALES. ] 



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is quadrangular and green ; the styles are five, very slender, a little 

 longer than the stamens, and the stigma is blunt ; the capsule is oval- 

 ish, pentagonal, spotted, divided into five cavities, each containing 

 three seeds, which are heart-shaped, longitudinally grooved, convex on 

 both sides, of a briglit reddish brown color, and enclosed within a 

 shining, white, elastic arillus, by the bursting of which the seeds are 

 thrown out. 



This plant is foimd growing in various parts of Europe and Asia, 

 but is a native of North America, where it is chiefly found in the 

 mountainous regions of the interior part of the United States. It 

 selects shady places, such as woods, groves, and hedges, and flowers 

 from April tiU June. 



Medical Projjerties and Uses. The Acetosella is totally ino- 

 dorous, but has a grateful acid taste, which is more agreeable than the 

 common Sorrel, {Rumcx Acctosa,) and approaches nearly to that of 

 the juice of lemons, or the acid of tartar, with wliich it also corres- 

 ponds in a great measure in its medicinal effects, being considered re- 

 frigerant, antiscorbutic, and diuretic, and was formerly used extensive- 

 ly in the treatment of bilious and putrid fevers. The principal use, 

 however, of the Acetosella, is to allay inordinate heat, and to quench 

 thirst ; for this purpose a pleasant whey may be formed by boiling the 

 plant in milk, which under certain circumstances may be preferable to 

 the conserve directed by the London College, though an extremely 

 grateful and useful medicine. Many have employed the root of lu- 

 zula, probably on account of its beautiful red color rather than for its 

 superior efficacy. An essential salt is prepared from this plant, known 

 by the name of essential salt of lemons, and used for the purpose of 

 taking oit ink spots, iron mould, and sometimes as a test for lime. 



