NAT. ORDER. — ROTACE.E. 173 



a remarkable instance of quickly-fading beauty, opening and ex- 

 panding to the morning sun, and before night sti'ewing the ground 

 with their elegant remains ; as each succeeding day produces new 

 blossoms, this deciduous disposition of the petals, common to the 

 genus, is the less to be regretted. It is a native of Spain and Por- 

 tugal, and prefers a dry soil and warm situation, and in very severe 

 seasons requires some kind of covering. It is readily increased by 

 cuttings ; but Miller remarks that the best plants are raised from 

 the seeds. 



One or two varieties have been found with varied leaves, and 

 having petals without a dark spot at the base. This is not the plant 

 from whence the officinal Ladanum of the shops is procured, though 

 affording in warmer countries than this a similar gum, hence its 

 name, ladanifera. This plant grows most plentifully on or near the 

 sea shore, and consequently sand is occasionally mixed with the 

 gum. The best sort is in dark colored black masses, of the consis- 

 tence of a plaster, which grows still softer when handled : the other 

 is in long rolls curled up, harder than the former, but of a paler 

 color and of less value. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — In general this gum agrees in 

 virtue with the balsam of Peru ; but it is rarely used except in 

 external applications. It has an agreeable smell, and a light, pun- 

 gent, bitterish taste. Rectified spirit of wine dissolves nearly the 

 whole of the gum ; and water takes up the most of its smell and 

 taste. By distillation with water an essential oil arises, leaving 

 behind a brittle resin. 



Heat quickly destroys the specific flavor of this gum, which was 

 formerly given as a pectoral and astringent in catarrhal affections 

 and dysenteries ; but it is now confined to external use, in the form 

 of a plaster. The plaster is made by taking, Pitius abies resina, 

 Burgundy pitch, one pound ; Ci.slus ladani/crus resina, gum of the 

 Cistus, one pound ; beeswax half a pound ; melt these together. 

 This is an excellent compound for a plaster, and will be found valu- 

 able where plasters are necessary. 



