246 PLANT NAMES ANT) SYNONYMS 



1312. MERCURIALIS, L. Dog' s Mercury, etc. Euphorbiaceae. 



From Latin, "mercurial plant". Herbs. About 6 species, 

 Mediterranean region and eastern Asia; 1 nat. in U. S.; Ger. 

 Bingelkraut; Fr. Mercuriale. 



a. M. auiiua L. Europe, adv. in U. S. Mercury herb, French 



Mercury. Leaves cathartic, alterative. 



b. M. perennis L. Europe. Dog's Mercury, Kentish Balsam, 



Bazzard-flower, Bristol-weed, Cheadle, Sapwort. The male 

 plant is called Baron's (i. e. barren) Mercury, also Girl's Mer- 

 cury, ]VIaiden Mercury, the female plant is Boy's Mercury. 

 Properties of (a). 



1313. MERIOLIX, Raf. Primrose*. Oiia^-raceae. 



Syn. Oenothera, in part. Sufirutescent herb with yellow 

 flowers. One species, southwestern U. S. and Mexico. 



1314. MERTENSIA, Roth. Lungwort. Bora^inaceae. 



Named for Prof. F. C. Mertens, German botanist. Syn. 

 Pulmonaria, in part. Perennial herbs. About 15 species, 

 northern hemisphere; 10 in U. S. 



a. M. Yirgrinica (L. ) DC. (M. pulmonarioides Roth. (Kew), P. 

 Virginica L. ). Ontario to S. Carolina, west to Kansas and 

 Nebraska. Virginia or American Lungwort, Smooth or Tree 

 Lungwort, Virginia Cowslip, American Cowslip*, Roanoke 

 Bell, Blue-bells*. Herb lenitive, expectorant. 



1315. MESADENIA, Raf. Indian Plantain. Compositae. 



From Greek, "central gland". Syn. Cacalia, Senecio, in part. 

 Perennial herbs with small discoid flower-htads. About 12 

 species, N. America, 8 in U. S. 



a. M. atriplicifolia ( L. ) Raf. (C. atroplicifoliaL., S. atroplicifol- 



iusHook.). Ontario to Florida, west to Kansas and Minne- 

 sota. Pale Indian Plantain, Wild Caraway. Plant emollient. 



b. M. reiiiformis (Muhl. ) Raf. (S. Muhlenbergii Sch. (Kew), 



C. reniformis Muhl.). New Jersey to Minnesota and south- 

 ward. Great Indian Plantain, Wild Collard. 



1316. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM, L. Aizoidaceae. 



From Greek, "midday flower". Syn. Mesembryum, Adans. 

 Fleshy-leaved plants, some cactus-like. About 300 species, 

 warmer regions mostly of Old World, especially Africa; 3 nat. 

 in U. S. 



a. M. crystallinuin L. South Africa, nat. in southern Europe and 



in California. Ice-plant, Diamond Fig, Diamond-plant; Ger. 

 Eiskraut; Fr. Glaciale, Cristalline. Plant diuretic, emollient. 



b. M. edule L. S.Africa. Hottentot's Fig. Fruit ed'ihle. 



1317. MESOSPHAERUM,P.Br. 1756. Mesosphaerum. Labiatae. 

 Syn. Hyptis, Jacq. 1786. Herbs or shrubs. About 250 spe- 

 cies, warmer regions of New World, especially in Brazil; 4 in 



U.S. 



